R Magazine, Ex-TeenArt_Issue 1_Authenticity Ap. 2014 | Page 12

GIUSSEPPE LICARI
his inspiration, his «humus»
The Arte Povera or «poor art»

is an Italian artistic movement born in the sixtiesseventies. In the Arte Povera, during the creative
process, the artist mainly focuses on the materials he
uses and not on the finished product. In fact, they
would rather describe it as an «attitude» instead of a
«movement».
There is a kind of commitment that pushes the artist
to challenge the society of mass consumption by
using the natural elements he has at his disposal for
his creation. In the mid sixties, Italian art contested
the American supremacy of the art market. The
movement can be described as a return to the basics
in regard to traditional techniques used: fire, earth,
plants, coal, sand, stone, water, second hand clothes
etc.
What also matters is the ability to create an object
that has some relief and make it tactile instead of just
making flat creation.
Thus, the Arte Povera artists are engaged revolutionary
political commitment that involves discussions
between nature and culture. The poor art condemns
any attempt at identification and ownership, it is
elusive.

Giusseppe Licari is a contemporary

artist born in Erice, an Italian town in Sicily. Based in
Rotterdam, the artist was inspired by the seventies Arte
Povera. He works with nature and the environment.
His work consists of installations that invite the public
to participate, share and interact. He defines public
participation as the main engine of his work.

TEEN’ART Magazine - Roots