Barba di un compagno di cella in infinte spirali, 2013
Plastic tube 68 cm x 10 cm Ø, label, Plexiglas display case and wood
140 x 120 x 40 cm

During World War II, Mario Merz became a member of the anti-fascist group “Giustizia e Libertà” (Justice and Freedom) and in 1945 he was arrested and imprisoned while leafleting. While in prison he met the art critic, Luciano Pistoi, and there he drew the beard of his cellmate in infinite spirals. This drawing marked the beginning of Merz’s artistic activity. Elisabetta Benassi imagines, and lets the viewer imagine, that the tube contains the lost drawing created by Mertz during his imprisonment prison.

Installation view Todo o Património é Poesia curated by Filipa Oliveira, Fórum Eugénio de Almeida, Évora, Portugal.

Courtesy the artist

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