Kounellis

Born in Athens in 1936, Jannis Kounellis has lived in Rome since 1958. He made a name for himself in the Arte Povera movement - the first contemporary Italian art movement to be recognised on an international level. Using materials that were initially considered unusual - wool, coal, live animals, plants and theatrical sets - Kounellis was the first to attempt to eliminate the ideological boundary that separates life from art, ethics from aesthetics. His work, at times monumental and complex, has over the years acquired such importance and regard that he has become a key protagonist in the international art scene. This text discusses his work.