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 photos of works and critical texts to embellish the publication, to humanise it, to contextualise and ‘lighten’ it.

What photographer Giorgio Colombo has done, following Alighiero Boetti over 30 years, photographing him regularly, capturing almost all of 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 the infinite world of Boetti.

Giorgio Colombo was born in Milan in 1945 and started taking photographs in 1959. From 1960 to 1965 he studied painting at the Castello Sforzesco School of Art in Milan.In 1963 he began his work documenting art for personal and studio use. From 1965 he worked as a graphic designer at several Milanese publishing houses and later became Art Director and photographer for Olivetti. In 1971, he opened his own studio in Milan, today the home of the archive, and began working as a professional photographer. In 1984, he began digitising the photographic archive and all related documents. Today, this archive, which can be consulted online, is a reference point and historical memory of the avant-garde movements from the 1960s to the present day, in particular of Arte Povera.

Press release

Boetti e il suo Cabinet de Curiosite’s in mostra da Tornabuoni Arte, (by Adriana Talia), Insideart.eu, 12/11/2024

Alighiero e Boetti, Io, Noi, (by Roberto D’Onorio), artapartofculture.net, 16/12/2024