Life of Alighiero Boetti

In 1970, photographer Giorgio Colombo began a great relationship of friendship and esteem with Alighiero Boetti, to whom he dedicated this book. Certain biographical photos of Alighiero Boetti, taken by Colombo, have become iconic: when he is spraying cast iron, in the studio with Salman on his moped, drawing a comma on squared paper or in front of his Map in an exhibition. In catalogues and various publications, the few biographical images usually have the task of accompanying the photos of works and the critical texts in order to embellish the publication, to humanise it, to contextualise and ‘lighten’ it. One studies the texts and looks at the photos of the works and then relaxes and sees who made these works and in what context through the biographical photos. What the photographer Giorgio Colombo has done, following Alighiero Boetti over 30 years, photographing him regularly, capturing almost all his exhibitions, many of his works, his various studios, his career and his family is gold for art history, sacred material for archives and an object of documentation. By publishing this collection, Colombo also generously conveys Alighiero’s thoughts, helping the public to enter Boetti’s infinite world.

Text in English and Italian.