Michelangelo Pistoletto's Third Paradise: Art as Social Transformation

Michelangelo Pistoletto, a key figure of Arte Povera, is directing the second edition of Evento, an urban art festival in Bordeaux from October 6–16, 2011. At 78, he continues to develop his concept of the Third Paradise, a symbol of a balanced society between nature and artifice. His retrospective 'Da uno a molti, 1956–1974' at MAXXI in Rome and 'The Mirror of Judgement' at Serpentine Gallery in London have highlighted his visionary work. Pistoletto founded Cittadellarte in Biella in 1998, a laboratory integrating art into social fabric. His mirror paintings, begun in 1962, use polished steel to merge past and present. In 1967, he opened his studio to other artists, forming the Zoo group. Evento Bordeaux 2011 focuses on sustainability, diversity, and proximity, aiming to reinvent the city through art. Pistoletto's symbol of the Third Paradise, created in 2003, modifies the infinity sign to include a third central circle representing a new balance. The festival includes exhibitions, performances, and workshops engaging citizens. Pistoletto's work emphasizes transformation and social responsibility, rejecting art as mere object.