Opening: Nanni Balestrini: For anyone reading ths there is nothing left to fear

Since the 1950s, Nanni Balestrini (born 1935, Milan) has been one of the most important figures of Italian culture: as a poet, novelist, publishing editor and visual artist. For the first time, Balestrini, who is especially well-known in Germany as an author of political novels, will have an exhibition dedicated to him at the ZKM, providing an extensive insight into his visual poetic oeuvre. Collages and cut-ups from images, texts and film sequences show a life’s work, which has turned against the «inertia of language« and, therefore, against the stiffness of thought and action.

Nanni Balestrini is one of the most important representatives of the Italian post-war avant-garde. As an artist, publishing editor and consultant, as a journal founder and organiser of festivals, he occupied a key role in the development and implementation of the literary neo-avant-garde. 

The opening of the exhibition takes place within the exhibition series »Poetic Expansions«, together with »Hansjörg Mayer: The Smell of Ink« and »soon | just | now. gerhard rühm as intermedia pioneer« on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 7 pm – we look forward to seeing you!