Michelangelo Pistoletto: One and One Makes Three

Associazione Arte Continua with the support of Galleria Continua, in collaboration with Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore – Benedicti Claustra Onlus, presents “One and One Makes Three” a show by Michelangelo Pistoletto, curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi as Collateral Event of the 57th Venice Biennale.

Michelangelo Pistoletto, who had a key role in the 20th century art developing the conceptual movement of Arte Povera, ideated a site-specific exhibition for the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore and for the adjoining spaces of the Sala del Capitolo and the Officina dell’Arte Spirituale, reflecting on destiny of humankind needing an urgent social change.

In the centre of the Basilica the visitor is welcomed by the installation Suspended Perimeter – Love Difference, a series of mirrors organized in circle as a sort of opposite altar. Mirrors expand capacity of the eye and of the mind, mediating between the visible and the non-visible. Set up in a consecrated space devoted to prayer and worship, the work acquires original force related to one of the most emergent themes facing humankind in the contemporary world like the conflict between religions, the acceptance of differences and multiculturality seeking the role of art in creating a common commitment.

Il Tempo del Giudizio (The Time of Judgment), on view in the Sala del Capitolo (chapter room), is a sort of self-confession of the four most widespread religions in the world – Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism.

The unshown DNA spirituale dell’arte (Spiritual DNA of Art) seems to be the genetic transcription of the Third Paradise, for which Pistoletto is best-known.

Each piece of the exhibition, bringing its own story and memory, is arranged in a spatiotemporal continuum.