Alighiero Boetti

Collezione Ortu, Genova
Studio Giangaleazzo Visconti, Milano
Ivi acquistato dall'attuale proprietario nel 2004

This work in in generally good overall condition. Colour is slightly more delicate compared to the catalogue illustration. Left hand paper: there is a shallow surface rub towards the center of the lower edge visible in the catalogue illustration. There are some thin wrinkles probably inherent to the artist choice of media along the edges and towards the center. Right hand paper: there are some thin wrinkles probably inherent to the artist choice of media along the right edge and all along the center from the left edge to the right one. There are 2 unobtrusive traces of fold by the upper and lower right corners.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Una penna a sfera, comunemente detta biro, è appunto uno degli strumenti più comuni di cui ci serviamo per comunicare attraverso la scrittura. Nessun valore estetico particolare in una biro, se non per gli artisti, Boetti ne ha fatto il tramite per Unità Varietà, per re inventare il suo linguaggio artistico.
Nel suo universo di senso la biro inoltre è servita al meglio per disperdere il tratto distintivo, unico e inimitabile nel mare di segni collettivi e anonimi che è l’intento basilare dell’arte di Boetti. La superficie delle biro di Boetti si presentano solcate da virgole, altrettante piccole zone bianche, ciascuna in corrispondenza di una delle lettere dell’alfabeto e collegando virgola a lettera emerge la frase che l’opera nasconde, tramite questo semplice dispositivo di destrutturazione del linguaggio rinascono tutti i linguaggi, le parole, i segni, le parole e così via.

A ballpoint pen, or biro, is one of the most common tools we use to communicate in writing. A ballpoint pen does not have any particular aesthetic value, if not for artists. Boetti rendered it the means through which the phrase unità varietà (unity and variety),  re invents his artistic language.

In his universe of meaning, ballpoint pens also served to dispel better the distinctive, unique, and inimitable act in the sea of collective and anonymous signs that is the basic intention of Boetti’s art,  these works’ surfaces appear indented by commas, small white zones, each of which correspond to one of the letters of the alphabet, it is connecting comma and letter that the phrase the work conceals finally emerges. The simple mechanism of deconstructing language actually causes the rebirth of all languages, words, signs, painting  and so on.

(Giorgio Verzotti, Alighiero Boetti quasi tutto, catalogo mostra presso la GAM di Bergamo, 2004, p. 67)