Giuseppe Penone’s new solo exhibition, “Thoughts in the Roots,” is now on display at the Serpentine Galleries in London. The renowned Italian artist’s works primarily incorporate natural elements such as trees, wood, leaves, plants, and rocks. Through his art, Penone invites viewers to contemplate the deep connections between humanity and the natural world.
One of the standout pieces in this exhibition is a striking bronze sculpture of a willow tree, set in Kensington Gardens. Cast from a 100-year-old willow tree and lined with gold leaf, the sculpture appears to the casual observer as part of the natural landscape. Penone’s ability to blend art with nature is evident in this work, where a once living tree, struck by lightning and reduced to a slender, splintered trunk, is given new life through his transformative artistic process.
Inside the Serpentine Galleries, another of Penone’s installations lines the walls of the central gallery with laurel leaves, imbuing the space with a subtle, natural fragrance.
Penone blends art with nature
A prominent sculpture within the exhibit features timber beams stripped down to reveal the young branches once encased within, exemplifying Penone’s fascination with the hidden life and inner workings of natural materials.
Penone’s artistic inclinations were nurtured by his mother and influenced by his sculptor grandfather. After studying at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin, he began his career by interacting directly with nature. In 1968, at the age of 21, he attached a metal cast of his hand to a tree trunk, allowing the tree to grow around it.
This early work, documented through a series of photographs, caught the attention of Germano Celant, an influential Italian critic who included Penone in his seminal book “Arte Povera,” linking him with one of the major art movements of the 1960s and ’70s. Throughout his career, Penone’s works have consistently reflected a deep engagement with nature, demonstrating the profound and often intricate relationships humans have with their environment. “Thoughts in the Roots” will be on display at the Serpentine Galleries through September 7, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience Penone’s thought-provoking and nature-centric artistry.
