Direzione 1978

Editor: So here we have "Direzione" by Giovanni Anselmo, created in 1978. It appears to be a simple rectangular block of dark grey stone or rock. I’m immediately struck by its weight, both visually and probably literally! The title "Direzione", meaning direction, adds an intriguing layer. What direction do you think Anselmo is pointing us in? Curator: Ah, direction! Or perhaps, *mis*direction? This piece is like a Zen koan sculpted from granite. Anselmo was a master of Arte Povera, turning humble materials into profound statements. It seems to defy the grandeur traditionally associated with sculpture. Don’t you feel that the raw texture fights the smooth, geometric form? It's in this friction, this tension between nature and imposed order, that its true poetry resides, a collision of intent and matter. Editor: I see what you mean. It is definitely not grand! There’s this sort of elemental clash. Like a primal urge to categorize everything. But why place such a heavy emphasis on the material? Curator: I think Anselmo is reminding us that the earth itself holds direction, a magnetic pull – consider the earth’s core, iron and nickel generating a magnetic field, the invisible force we follow to find true north. This ‘direction’ isn't always linear, or neat, or defined by human construct. Perhaps he’s asking us, quite cheekily I think, "Where do *you* think you're going, dear student?". A good artist is an alchemist, not just rearranging elements, but also revealing their hidden truths. Do you think this is perhaps an early map? One of gravity and minerals? Editor: I’ve always relied too much on the conceptual! So it’s the sheer physicality that's the core of this piece. Thanks! That puts things into, well, *direction*. Curator: Precisely! Now, doesn't the earth under our feet seem to sing a new tune! It is good to know our North.