The Art Newspaper

Michelangelo Pistoletto: the Mirror of Judgement

12 Jul 11 – 17 Sep 11

london. “Pistoletto is such a complex artist, he’s the art equivalent of superstring [a theory of physics],” said Hans Ulrich Obrist, co-director of exhibitions at London’s Serpentine Gallery, which unveils a major new installation by the Italian art titan in July.

Pistoletto, a principal proponent of the 1960s Arte Povera movement, will create a labyrinth, leading visitors to hidden installations and sculptures through an unfolding warren.

The piece is a new take on one of his favoured motifs: the maze. “The work is a layering of many of the artist’s concerns.

But this is not only about discovering new aspects of Pistoletto’s work; it’s also about visitors discovering something about themselves,” said Julia Peyton-Jones, the Serpentine’s director. Pieces placed along the maze route include the Pozzo Specchio (Mirrored Well), 1966, a work from the “Minus Objects” series (1965-66); a selection of “Trombe” (Horns) works of the 1960s; and four “Mirrors of Judgement”, 2011 (the title of the show).

A mirrored obelisk dominates the central gallery. The “Mirror Paintings” (begun in 1961), are considered the foundation of Pistoletto’s theoretical thought.

These silkscreened figures superimposed on polished sheets of stainless steel prompted fresh thinking on perspective, representation of the self and others, and how the mirrored surface could ­reflect real time. n Gareth Harris Categories: Contemporary (1970-present)

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• British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age, United Kingdom
• 7th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, Germany
• Owen Jones: Islamic Design, Discovery and Vision, United Arab Emirates
• This Will Have Been: Art, Love and Politics in the 1980s, USA

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