Alberto Burri facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Alberto Burri
Alberto Burri, photographed by Nanda Lanfranco
Born	Alberto Burri (1915-03-12)12 March 1915 Città di Castello, at Perugia, Umbria
Died	13 February 1995(1995-02-13) (aged 79) Nice, France
Resting place	Città Di Castello cemetery
Nationality	Italian
Education	Informalism
Alma mater	University of Perugia
Known for	Painting, Land art, sculptur
Notable work	Cretto di Burri
Movement	Fluxus, Nouveau réalisme, Arte Povera
Spouse(s)	Minsa Craig (m. 1955)
Awards	UNESCO Prize at the São Paulo Biennial (1959) Critics' Prize at the Venice Biennale (1960) Premio Marzotto (1964) Grand Prize at the São Paulo Biennial (1965) Feltrinelli Prize for Graphic Art (1973) honorary Degree Glasgow University (1991) Legion d'Honneur (1993) Italian Order of Merit (1994)

Alberto Burri (born March 12, 1915 – died February 13, 1995) was a famous Italian visual artist. He was a painter, sculptor, and even a physician. Burri was known for his unique art style, which used many different materials. He influenced other artists like Robert Rauschenberg.

Life Story

Alberto Burri was born in Città di Castello, Italy, on March 12, 1915. His father was a wine merchant, and his mother was a teacher. He studied to become a doctor at the University of Perugia.

In 1940, Italy joined World War II. Burri was called to serve as a combat medic in Libya. In 1943, his unit was captured by the British in Tunisia. He was then sent to a prisoner-of-war camp in Hereford, Texas, in the United States.

While in the camp, Burri could not practice medicine. He chose painting as a way to spend his time. He was almost 30 years old and had never studied art formally. This is where his journey as an artist began. After the war, he was freed in 1946 and moved to Rome. He decided to become a full-time painter. His first art show was in 1947.

Exploring New Art Materials

When Burri returned to Italy, he faced challenges because of the war. He moved to Rome and started connecting with other artists. He worked in a small studio and was very dedicated to his art.

At first, Burri painted pictures that looked like real things. But by the end of 1947, he started making abstract art. This means his art did not show real objects but used shapes, colors, and textures. He was influenced by artists like Jean Dubuffet and Joan Miró.

Tars, Molds, and Hunchbacks

Between 1948 and 1950, Burri began to experiment. He used unusual materials in his paintings, such as tar, sand, zinc, and Aluminium dust. He also used Polyvinyl chloride glue, treating it as important as paint.

His "Catrami" (Tars) series used tar not just as a material, but as a color. He created different shiny and dull black shades. In 1948, he made "Nero 1" (Black 1), which became a key artwork for him. Black, white, and red became important colors in his art.

In his "Muffe" (Molds) series, he let materials react naturally. This created drips and textures that looked like real mold. In another series called "Gobbi" (Hunchbacks), he put tree branches behind the canvas. This made the flat painting look more 3D.

Sacks and American Recognition

Starting in 1952, Burri became known for his "Sacchi" (Sacks). These artworks were made from jute fabric, which was often used for sacks from the Marshall Plan. He used the fabric itself as the main part of the art. The color almost disappeared, and the material became the focus.

Burri's art was different from "Action painting," which was popular at the time. His works were carefully planned, even with their rips and layers. In 1949, he made "SZ1" (Sack of Sugar, 1), which included a piece of the american flag. This was before pop art started using similar images.

Challenges and Success

At first, many people did not understand Burri's "Sacchi." In 1952, some of his works were even rejected from the Venice Biennale art show. In 1959, some people in the Italian Parliament wanted one of his works removed from a museum.

However, things changed in 1953. James Johnson Sweeney, who was the director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, discovered Burri's art. Sweeney introduced Burri's work to the United States. This helped Burri become known internationally.

In 1955, American artist Robert Rauschenberg visited Burri's studio. Rauschenberg's visits helped him create his famous "Combine Paintings." Burri's connection with the US grew stronger when he married Minsa Craig, an American ballet dancer, in 1955.

Using Fire in Art

Around 1953–54, Burri started experimenting with fire. He made small burn marks on paper for a book of poems. He was inspired by a visit to an oil field.

Combustions, Woods, Irons, Plastics

Burri used fire to create his "Combustioni" (Combustions) series. He moved from burning paper to burning thin sheets of wood in his "Legni" (Woods) series around 1957.

He also made "Ferri" (Irons) by cutting and welding metal sheets with a Blow torch. In the 1960s, he created his "Plastiche" (Plastics) series. He used a blowtorch to make craters and holes in plastic sheets. He carefully controlled the flame to create balanced shapes.

Cracks and New Textures

From 1963, Burri spent his winters in Los Angeles. He was inspired by the natural cracks in the desert ground in Death Valley National Park. This led him to create his "Cretti" (Cracks) series starting in 1973.

He used a special mix of clay, resins, and paint. He would dry the surface with heat, causing it to crack. He could control the size of the cracks by stopping the heating process with glue.

The Great Crack at Gibellina

One of Burri's most famous "Cretti" is the "Cretto di Burri" at Gibellina, Sicily. This is a huge outdoor artwork built on the ruins of a town destroyed by an earthquake in 1968. It covers about 85,000 square meters, making it one of the largest artworks ever. The white concrete covers the old streets, allowing people to walk through them. It helps to remember the lost town.

Cellotex and Large Paintings

In the 1970s, Burri started making even larger artworks. He used a material called Celotex, which is an industrial material made from wood scraps and glue. He had used it before as a base for his works, but now it became the main material.

He created large series of paintings on Celotex, often with geometric shapes. Examples include "Orsanmichele" (1981) and "Annottarsi" (1985). His last series, "Nero e Oro" (Black and Gold), was a tribute to the gold of Ravenna mosaics.

Sculpture and Stage Design

Burri saw his paintings and sculptures as connected. He often used similar ideas in both. For example, he used the shape of an archivolt in his paintings and in iron sculptures like "Teatro Scultura" (1984).

His large ceramic "Grandi Cretti" (Large Cracks) in Los Angeles and Naples are like his crackle paintings but in 3D. The "Grande Ferro" (Large Iron) in Perugia is another important sculpture.

The "Large Cretto" at Gibellina is a unique artwork. It combines ideas from architecture, sculpture, and space. Other iron sculptures by Burri can be found in museums in Città di Castello, Ravenna, and Milan. In Milan, his "Teatro Continuo" (Continuous Theatre) is a real stage and a sculpture at the same time.

Theatre Sets

Burri also designed sets for plays, ballets, and operas. In 1963, he designed the sets for the ballet "Spirituals" in Milan. His "Plastiche" artworks were used to create dramatic sets for plays like "Ignazio Silone" (1969) and "Tristan and Iseult" (1975).

In 1973, he designed the sets and costumes for "November Steps," a ballet created by his wife, Minsa Craig. This ballet even included a film clip showing how his "Cretti" artworks were made.

Graphic Art

Burri thought graphic art (like prints) was just as important as painting. He experimented with new printing techniques. For example, in 1965, he created prints that perfectly copied the look of burning on paper. He also made prints that showed the irregular surfaces of his "Cretti" (1971).

He used marble dust and sand to create textured, 3D effects in his "Mixoblack" series (1988). Burri used money from an award for graphic art to help restore old frescos by Luca Signorelli. This shows how he valued both modern and classical art.

Legacy

Alberto Burri passed away on February 13, 1995, in Nice, France. Before he died, he received important awards like the Legion of Honour. He also donated some of his artworks to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Many other artists, like Lucio Fontana and Anselm Kiefer, were inspired by Burri's art. They recognized his great talent and influence.

Foundation and Museums

In 1978, the Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini was created in Città di Castello. This foundation helps protect Burri's artworks. The first museum collection opened in 1981 in the Albizzini Renaissance building.

The second collection is in the former tobacco drying sheds in Città di Castello. This large industrial building was opened as a museum in 1990. It holds many of Burri's large paintings and sculptures. The building's black exterior and special design were planned by Burri himself.

Why Burri's Art is Important

Alberto Burri is seen as a very important artist of the 20th century. He was a pioneer for many art movements that came after him, like Arte Povera and Neo-Dada. He changed how people thought about painting and collage.

Art experts have studied his work in many ways. Some say his art was about showing the "essentialness" of things, without extra details. Others say his use of materials showed his feelings about the world after the war. One art critic said that for Burri, "it is reality to simulate painting." This means he used real materials to create art that looked like it was painted.

Art Shows

Burri's first art show was in Rome in 1947. He showed his first abstract works there in 1948. He also had shows featuring his "Molds and Blacks" and "Combustions" artworks.

From 1953, Burri regularly showed his art in the United States. He was included in an important exhibition called "Younger European Painters: A Selection" at the Guggenheim Museum. This helped his work become known around the world.

He also had many solo exhibitions in major museums, including the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris (1972) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York (1978). In 2015–16, a big art show called "Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting" was held at the Guggenheim Museum, bringing a lot of international attention to his art.

Art Market

Burri's artworks are very valuable. In 2011, his "Combustione legno" (1957) sold for 3.2 million pounds. In 2014, his "Combustione Plastica" sold for over 4.6 million pounds. In 2016, his "Sacco e Rosso" (1959) set a new record, selling for over 9 million pounds.

Tributes and Influence

Alberto Burri's art has inspired many people. The Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni was inspired by Burri's use of materials for his 1964 film "Red Desert."

Composers have written music in his honor. His "Large Cretto" at Gibellina has been used as a stage for festivals and performances. His 1973 ballet "November Steps" was performed again in 2015.

Fashion designers have also found inspiration in Burri's work. For example, Roberto Capucci created a clothing item in 1969 called "Homage to Burri," which used crack-like features.

Burri also created the official posters for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. His "Sestante" series was used for the Umbria Jazz Festival poster in 2015, celebrating his 100th birthday.

Documentaries

1960 Carandente, Giovanni. Burri, Rome
1974 Simongini, Franco. Brandi, Cesare. Alberto Burri: l'avventura della ricerca (RAI/TV)
2011 Gambino, Davide. Guarneri, Dario. Alberto Burri, La vita nell'arte (Centro sperimentale di Cinematografia sezione documentario Sicilia)
2015 Severi, Luca. Alberto Burri e Piero della Francesca le due rivoluzioni (Zen Europe/Sky)
2015 Noordkamp, Petra. Il Grande Cretto di Gibellina (Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation)
2015 Valeri, Stefano. Alberto Burri Il tempo dell'arte (Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini Collezione Burri)
2016 Moneta, Matteo. Alberto Burri e la sua città (3D Produzioni/ Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini Collezione Burri)

Images for kids

Alberto Burri, photographed by Nanda Lanfranco