Jannis Kounellis on Globalization, Identity, and the Role of the Artist
In an Artribune essay, the late Jannis Kounellis critiques globalization for diminishing cultural distinctions and elevating American dominance, using Jasper Johns's flag artworks as emblematic examples. He juxtaposes the nomadic Impressionists with the studio-restricted Cubists, asserting that contemporary artists are mere weak links within bureaucratic frameworks. Kounellis also touches upon the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, recognizing cultural debts and the notion of martyrdom, while invoking Kavafis, Ungaretti, Marinetti, and Atatürk. He articulates European identity as rooted in diversity and critical skepticism, referencing Masaccio, Caravaggio, and Pollock. Expressing sorrow over the decline of the working class and 'the people,' he cites Dickens, Hugo, Millet, and Titian. Curated by Ludovico Pratesi, the essay concludes that artists can offer politicians a redefined historical perspective.
Key facts
- Jannis Kounellis critiques globalization as reinforcing American centrality.
- He references Jasper Johns's flag paintings as symbols of a real center.
- Kounellis contrasts Impressionist nomadism with Cubist studio practice.
- He discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mentions Kavafis, Ungaretti, Marinetti, and Atatürk.
- European identity is defined by diversity and critical doubt, unlike American certainty.
- He cites Masaccio, Caravaggio, and Pollock as key influences.
- Kounellis laments the disappearance of the working class and 'the people,' referencing Dickens, Hugo, Millet, and Titian.
- He recalls 1960s avant-garde exhibitions that challenged formal conventions.
- He argues that terrorism stems from Western complexity.
- Van Gogh's 'The Potato Eaters' inspired his leftist sentiment.
- The essay mentions Sironi, Burri, Mafai, Beckett, and Isaac Singer.
- The text is curated by Ludovico Pratesi and published on Artribune.
Entities
Artists
- Jannis Kounellis
- Jasper Johns
- Pablo Picasso
- Constantin Kavafis
- Giuseppe Ungaretti
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
- Masaccio
- Caravaggio
- Jackson Pollock
- Charles Dickens
- Victor Hugo
- Jean-François Millet
- Titian
- Mario Sironi
- Alberto Burri
- Antonietta Raphaël Mafai
- Samuel Beckett
- Isaac Bashevis Singer
- Vincent van Gogh
- James Joyce
Institutions
- Artribune
- Galleria Continua
- Centro Arti Visive Pescheria
- Fondazione Guastalla per l'arte contemporanea
- Università IULM di Milano
- La Monnaie de Paris
Locations
- Hong Kong
- America
- Paris
- Ethiopia
- Alexandria
- Salonica
- Smyrna
- Istanbul
- Venice
- Barcelona
- Trieste
- Rome
- Pesaro
- San Gimignano
- Beijing
- Les Moulins
- Italy
- France
- Greece
- Turkey
- Egypt
- New York
- Europe
- Mediterranean
- Middle East