- Enrico Baj
Enrico Baj (Milan (Italy), octobre, 31, 1924 - Vergiate (Italy), june 2003) [June 15 according to the Guardian, June 17 according to the-artists.org] was an Italian
artist andart writer . Many of his works show an obsession with nuclear war. He created prints, sculptures but especiallycollage . He was close to thesurrealist anddada movements, and was later associatied withpop art . As an author he has been described as a leading promoter of theavant-garde . He worked withUmberto Eco among other collaborators. He had a long interest in the pseudo-philosophy'pataphysics .He was born in
Milan , into a wealthy family, but left Italy in 1944 having upset the authorities and to avoidconscription . He studied at theMilan University law faculty and theBrera Academy of Art .In 1951 he founded the arte nucleare movement with Sergio Dangelo, which unlike the
abstract art was overtlypolitical . Baj himself was aligned with the anarchist movement. His most well-known pieces are probably he series of "Generals": absurd characters made fromfound object s such as belts or medals.He made numerous works using motifs from other artists, from
Leonardo da Vinci toPicasso . Sometimes he recreated entire works of other painters.In 1972 public display of a major work, "Funeral Of The Anarchist Pinelli" ( a reference to
Carlo Carrà 's famous paintingThe Funeral of the Anarchist Galli of 1911) was banned after the murder of the police officer believed to be responsible forGiuseppe Pinelli 's death in custody. However his work continued to be political. In his last years he created a series of paintings in protest at the election ofSilvio Berlusconi . He died inVergiate , Italy.References
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,994501,00.html Obiturary]
* ISBN 3-89401-290-0Footnotes
External links
* [http://libcom.org/history/baj-enrico-1924-2003 Biography of Enrico Baj] - looking in detail at his anarchist politics
* [http://www.recollectionbooks.com/bleed/0615.htm#EnricoBaj Enrico Baj, June 15, 2003] Daily Bleed Calendar
* [http://www.no-art.info/baj/works.html Selected works by Enrico Baj] NO!art groupe
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