The exhibition, Thoughts in the Roots, embodies the key principles of Giuseppe Penone’s work, namely the interplay between artistic and natural process, and the poetic relationship between humans and the environment. Through a series of sculptures and installations, Penone reveals nature’s hidden structures, rhythms, and gestures.
A leading figure in the Arte Povera movement, Penone was born in a village near Cuneo, Italy in the 1960’s. Influenced by the forested landscapes of his surroundings in Northern Italy, his work is characterised by his lifelong exploration of the relationship between humans and nature.
True to the Arte Povera (“Poor Art”) movement that emerged in Italy in the 1960s, which celebrates the simplicity of natural materials and artistic techniques—Penone experiments with a wide range of materials including wood, iron, wax, bronze, terracotta, marble, and plaster, bringing their individual physical qualities to the fore. Rejecting traditional art forms – oil painting, sculpture, drawing, and opting instead to use throwaway materials, the artists aimed to challenge and disrupt the values of the commercialised contemporary gallery system.
Showcasing sculptures and works from 1969 to today, the exhibition features captivating works, such as: “A occhi chiusi (With Eyes Closed)” which is adorned with acacia thorns arranged to evoke the sensation of closed eyes; “Soffio di foglie (Breath of Leaves)”, showing an imprint of the artist’s body on a bed of leaves. The exhibition also includes numerous sculptures using trees, highlighting Penone’s enduring relationship with wood. Intricate and raw, the sculptures celebrate the knots and veins of trees, emphasising their intimate – almost human character.
‘‘All of my work is a trial to express my adherence and belonging to nature, and it is with this thought that I have chosen the works for the exhibition. The two paths that I have created—inside the gallery and outside of it, in the park—become two integrated gardens,” explained Penone.
Thoughts in the Roots, runs until the 3rd of September, 2025 and was curated by Claude Adjil, Curator at Large; and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director with Alexa Chow, Assistant Exhibitions Curator.
