La nascita de Venere

In the 1960’s, Luciano Fabro caused a sensation as one of the figureheads of arte povera. Yet this simple art-historical label does not do justice to the diversity and individuality of his oeuvre. His work can probably be best characterised as the art of ideas, as that is what concerned Fabro most: creating visual forms that are not only a feast for the eyes, but which also make people think. His work always draws heavily on our powers of association.

La nascita di Venere consists of three parts. The bottom two parts of the sculpture form a shiny polished column of onyx (hollow). On top of the column, the artist put a chapiter of white marble, which turns into a hanging form. The surface of the marble is partly unfinished so that the perfect integrity of the column is emphasized. The hanging form however suggests a certain movement and seems to defy gravity in a peculiar way. The sculpture depicts the birth of the Greek/Roman goddess of earthly love and beauty, Venus, from the foam of the sea.