Jannis Kounellis, in addition to his legacy as a key participant in Arte Povera, was also a prolific teacher and mentor. In Focus: Jannis Kounellis as Mentor aimed to shed light on this defining, yet unrecognized, aspect of Kounellis’ practice. Curated by Dr. Francesco Guzzetti, Magazzino Italian Art’s former Scholar-in-Residence 2018-19, this program looked specifically at his impact while as a professor of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf from 1993 to 2001, and later in the early 2000s, holding workshops throughout Europe.
The program featured a presentation by Dr. Francesco Guzzetti, who interviewed former students and assistants of Kounellis, such as artists Christiane Löhr and Eduard Winklhofer. A video of an interview with Michelle Coudray and Bruno Corà, respectively president and member of the scientific committee of Archivio Kounellis in Rome, was also screened, followed by a conversation with artist Calixto Ramírez who was a former student of Jannis Kounellis. The program closed with a Q&A from the audience.
