Mario Merz, collage, spray paint and crayon on paper, 1984
The Italian artist Mario Merz is one of the best-known representatives of Arte Povera. This “poor art” responded to the consumerism of modern man and the loss of its ecological connection. Through the combination of natural and synthetic materials he brings art closer to everyday life. Merz is known for its igloos, a symbol of the primitive home and the symbiotic relationship of prehistoric man with his environment. With the many industrial objects he emphasizes the distance of contemporary man versus his original existence.
‘Fare foglie dai vecchi ceppi’, making leaves from old stumps, refers to the emergence of new life. Fueled by its own organic forces, nature has its biological vicious circle. His attention to these ecological systems is inextricably linked to the artist’s oeuvre.
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