Alighiero Boetti

Alighiero Boetti (1940-1994) was an Italian conceptual artist, known for his participation in the Arte Povera movement and his exploration of systems, patterns, and order. Boetti's work often involved the use of everyday materials such as postage stamps, maps, and magazine covers, which he manipulated to create new meanings and comment on political and social issues. He is perhaps best known for his series of embroidered maps, Mappa, which he began in the 1970s. These maps, created in collaboration with Afghan craftswomen, depict the political boundaries of the world with each country filled in with its national flag. The series reflects Boetti's interest in the changing geopolitical landscape and the role of the artist in a globalized world. Boetti's work has been exhibited in numerous international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale and Documenta, and is held in the collections of major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Gallery in London. His practice has been influential to a younger generation of artists interested in the intersection of art, politics, and collaboration.