Reconsidering Arte Povera's Legacy for Contemporary Crisis

In 1967, Germano Celant's Arte Povera manifesto called on artists to combat market influences using guerrilla strategies and transient materials, emphasizing personal expression. Today, his concepts echo within right-wing populism, contrasting with progressive movements that emphasize collaboration. Modern artists are reinterpreting 'poor art' to redefine value, illustrated by Hito Steyerl's 2009 essay on 'poor images' and Jace Clayton's admiration for low-bitrate MP3s. Nonetheless, the risk of decontextualization in digital appropriation is highlighted in Sondra Perry's 2017 video, which links her brother's avatar back to its human counterpart. Meanwhile, James Bridle, Trevor Paglen, and John Gerrard explore the costs of digital infrastructure. Céline Condorelli's 2014 exhibition focused on community support, while Cameron Rowland's 2020 ICA show examined the legacy of slavery through legal documents.