Jannis Kounellis' Watercolor series, presented in the exhibition Translating China, revealed a more intimate and fluid dimension of his artistic practice while maintaining the conceptual rigor that defined his work. Known for his use of heavy industrial materials, Kounellis approached watercolor with the same intensity, transforming a traditionally delicate medium into a powerful vehicle for expression.

The works in this series were not mere paintings but rather visual meditations on movement, memory, and the passage of time. Using deep, layered washes of pigment, Kounellis created compositions that evoked a sense of organic flow, reminiscent of ink painting traditions in Chinese art, while still carrying the weight of his Arte Povera roots. The interaction between water, pigment, and paper mirrored his larger themes of transformation, where materials bear the marks of process and history. The Watercolor series stood as a testament to his ability to adapt his artistic language across different mediums while maintaining his signature exploration of matter and space. Through these works, Kounellis forged a poetic connection between the fluidity of watercolor and the structured intensity of his sculptural practice, creating a dialogue between ephemerality and permanence, East and West, tradition and reinvention.