The Voice of Pistoletto

Book excerpt: A dynamic and far-reaching dialogue with one of Europe’s most influential contemporary artists about his vision of unifying art and everyday life. In 2013, at the age of eighty, Michelangelo Pistoletto was the subject of a six-month exhibition at the Louvre in Paris. Here, in an insightful, passionate, and humorous dialogue with his interviewer, Alain Elkann, he reflects on his legacy. Illustrated with more than two hundred photographs of his life and work, The Voice of Pistoletto demystifies the story of the growth of an artist, candidly discussing his inspirations; his relationships with gallerists, critics, and curators of great renown; and the comparisons and critiques of his fellow contemporary masters, from Magritte to Picasso, Koons to Cattelan, Giacometti to Bacon. The result is a conversational collage that illuminates Pistoletto’s own creative life and gives readers a privileged view of the history of contemporary art in general.