ALIGHIERO BOETTI | Mano Libera Pensieri Sciolti

Le Case d'Arte, Milan
Acquired from the above by the previous owner

Jean-Christophe Ammann, Alighiero Boetti, Catalogo Generale, Tomo terzo 1, Milan 2015, p. 137, no. 1376, illustrated in colour

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate. Condition: This work is in good condition. There are some faint watermarks to the two leftmost panels, most notably towards the upper register of the first panel. There is also some discolouration to the two rightmost panels. Very close inspection reveals some light creasing in isolated places to the paper ground, which looks to be original to when the paper was laid down on canvas. Extremely close inspection reveals some minute dog ears to the extreme corner tips of some of the panels.
"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."

An imposing work from the important Lavorio Biro series, Mano Libera Pensieri Sciolti is a powerful statement by one of the most influential conceptual artists. Encapsulating many of Alighiero Boetti’s signature artistic strategies, including the use of language and non-traditional materials, the present work is an outstanding example of the artist’s inventive practice. Begun in Rome in 1972 and continued into the late 1980s, the Lavorio Biro works embody the spirit of the Italian Arte Povera movement on both a material and symbolic level. Each panel of the present work is the result of a meticulous and highly laborious process, in which the handdrawn biro creates a cryptic message through the negative space of the alphabet on the left hand, and the seemingly arbitrary arrangement of commas throughout all four panels. Closer inspection reveals that the commas spell out the text Mano Libera Pensieri Sciolti (which translates as ‘Free hand loose thoughts’), when read from left to right and matched up with the corresponding letters of the alphabet.

The use of the biro pen embodies the very essence of Arte Povera, being a quintessentially modern and inexpensive material. Moreover, Boetti’s interest in language itself is equally important, as it underlines the conceptual nature of Arte Povera. Yet despite the very theoretical basis of the movement, the resulting aesthetic is in some ways the opposite of its minimalistic concept. Executed in bright and vibrant colours and with a depth of detail through the irregular application of the biro, the present work is visually striking and in every way the product of intense, manual labour.

The depth of meaning within the work furthers it from being merely a statement of the principles of Arte Povera. Through the use of coded language, the viewer becomes implicit to the work by having to actively decode its message. Highlighting Boetti’s intrigue and obsession with wordplay and language, the text embodies a playfulness and spontaneity that perfectly demonstrate how Boetti’s approach elevates dry conceptualism to a more engaging level.