ESPOO.- Arte Povera – A New Chapter explores the work of women artists inspired by the Arte Povera movement, which emerged in Italy in the 1960s. The exhibition celebrates the power of modest materials through the work of more than 20 international artists. In addition to showcasing contemporary creators, it also features artists who were active during the early days of the movement. The exhibition creates an international context for the concurrent retrospective of Karin Hellman, which opens at EMMA at the same time. Both exhibitions will be on view at EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art from 9 April 2025 to 1 February 2026.
Unravel the Web of Meaning: Explore Louise Bourgeois' Art Through Books: Intrigued by the iconic spiders and emotionally charged sculptures of Louise Bourgeois? Click here to discover a collection of books about her on Amazon and delve into the complex themes and symbolism within her powerful work.
The Arte Povera movement emerged in late 1960s Italy as a reaction against the increasingly commercialised art market. The name of the movement translates directly as "poor art", referring to the materials used by its artists. By employing unadorned, everyday and discarded materials, the artists sought to bring artistic practice closer to daily life. Arte Povera – A New Chapter sheds light on perspectives that have been sidelined from the art historical narrative of Arte Povera. While traditionally the movement has been perceived as a male-dominated, the exhibition foregrounds the contributions of women artists. Here, Arte Povera is presented as a global experimental ethos that has inspired generations of artists and significantly influenced the development of contemporary art.
The exhibition features works by more than 20 artists, setting up a dialogue between original members of the movement – such as Marisa Merz and Ketty La Rocca – and their international contemporaries Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Senga Nengudi, Nancy Spero and Carol Rama, as well as contemporary artists including Dala Nasser and Kaarina Kaikkonen. Rather than refined aesthetics, the works highlight creative processes, intentional unfinishedness, and immediacy. The featured artists expand and diversify the concept of Arte Povera. In addition to materiality, the works address themes such as locality and embodied experience, collectivity and identity, as well as ecology and societal critique.
“This is the first time that Arte Povera is approached from a feminist perspective. The exhibition reveals ways in which women have enriched the content of the movement and how central their influence has been in establishing it as an enduring part of artistic practice,” says EMMA’s curator Ingrid Orman.
The featured artists are: Liisi Beckmann, Louise Bourgeois, Isabella Ducrot, Laura Grisi, Karin Hellman, Eva Hesse, Kaarina Kaikkonen, Mille Kalsmose, Bronwyn Katz, Ketty La Rocca, Maria Lai, Ana Lupaș, Marisa Merz, Kazuko Miyamoto, Dala Nasser, Senga Nengudi, Anu Põder, Carol Rama, Nancy Spero, Tove Storch, and Elina Vainio. A mobile guide produced for the exhibition will offer insights into the work of each artist.
Artdaily participates in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help us continue curating and sharing the art world’s latest news, stories, and resources with our readers.
