NEON & Fondazione Merz present MARIO MERZ | NUMBERS ARE PREHISTORIC at the Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens
22 October 2015 – 31 January 2016

A video about the life of the Italian artist Mario Merz, a major figure of Arte Povera, accompanying the exhibition ‘Numbers are Prehistoric’ (22 October 2015 – 31 January 2016)
It is the first exhibition of the Italian artist, presented within the context of a museum in Greece.
Curated by Paolo Colombo, the exhibition-survey aspires to shed light at the multifaceted practice of Mario Merz.The title of the exhibition, “Numbers are prehistoric”, derives from Mario Merz’s book “I Want to Write a Book Right Now” (1989) and expresses the need that urged him to become involved and dedicated in art, politics, life.
Presenting material that has not been exhibited before, the exhibition balances between visual art and written expression, following Merz’s particular way, who deals with the main themes in art using lines, numbers and words.
The exhibition is implemented at a crucial moment in Greece, when notions of necessity and primary needs are being re-evaluated, giving the opportunity to re-examine ones’ ideas through varied examples of Merz’s oeuvre.