The movement, that came about in the urban centres of northern Italy at that time sets itself apart from an art "rich" in established meanings by dint of its directness, austerity and by making reference to originality. The works of Arte Povera invite us to perceive the sensory quality of substances and materials with regard to their originality and symbolic meaning.
Arte Povera is one of the first main themes of the collection to be established and developed at Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein. The major synoptic exhibition Che Fare? Arte Povera – The Historic Years in summer 2010 was devoted to this movement. Since then, many people have expressed their wish for another connected presentation of arte povera works, and the Kunstmuseum is only too pleased to oblige.