A key figure within Arte Povera, Michelangelo Pistoletto is one of the most significant Italian artists of the 20th century. Now in his 80th year, he continues to present challenging projects, such as his forthcoming exhibition at the Louvre. Here he talks about his evolving studio, the difference between design and art, and the path he negotiates between disinterested theory and radical politics.
'I was always telling the students at the Viennese Academy that art is not just something you produce in order to make money, art can be used in a more thoughtful way and make a broader societal impact. It was only while at the academy that I began to develop Cittadellarte, a place that could be simultaneously independent and yet still dependent upon it. I chose the name Cittadellarte precisely because it incorporates two meanings: the citadel, where art is protected, and the city, with its openness.'
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)