Jannis Kounellis, Arte Povera Pioneer, Dies at 80 in Rome

Jannis Kounellis, a key figure in the Arte Povera movement, passed away on 17 February 2017 at Villa Mafalda hospital in Rome, aged 80. Born in Piraeus, Greece in 1936, he moved to Rome at 20 to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, making it his permanent home. His artistic evolution began with painting, but by 1961 he shifted to using newspaper to incorporate political and social themes from everyday life. From 1963, he integrated found objects into his work, aligning with the 'poor art' ethos. In 1967, he introduced live birds into exhibitions, leading to his iconic 1969 installation '12 Horses' at Galleria l’Attico in Rome, which featured live horses and was restaged by Gavin Brown’s Enterprise in New York in 2015. Kounellis first exhibited at La Tartaruga gallery in Rome in 1960 and debuted at the Venice Biennale in 1972, becoming a regular participant. His use of humble materials like coal, jute bags, steel, and stones defined his practice. Major solo exhibitions include shows at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens (2012), Tate Modern in London (2009), Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin (2007), Albertina in Vienna (2005), Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid (1996), Castello di Rivoli in Turin (1988), Whitechapel Art Gallery in London (1982), and Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven (1981).