Alberto Burri

Alberto Burri (1915–1995) was an Italian artist renowned for his transformative use of unconventional materials, which redefined the boundaries of post-war abstraction. Born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Burri earned a medical degree from the University of Perugia. During World War II, he served as a physician in the Italian army and was captured in Tunisia in 1943. While interned at Camp Howze in Texas, he began to paint, marking the inception of his artistic journey.

Upon returning to Italy, Burri abandoned medicine to pursue art full-time. His early works, such as the Catrami (Tars) series, utilised tar and industrial materials, signalling his departure from traditional painting. The Sacchi (Sacks) series, initiated in the late 1940s, featured stitched and patched burlap sacks, often burned or torn, reflecting the physical and psychological scars of war.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Burri expanded his material repertoire to include wood (Legni), iron (Ferri) and plastic (Plastiche), employing combustion techniques to manipulate these substances. His Combustioni (Combustions) series exemplifies this approach, where he used fire to alter materials, creating textures that evoke both destruction and creation.

One of Burri's most monumental works is the Grande Cretto in Gibellina, Sicily. This land art piece covers the ruins of a town destroyed by an earthquake with a vast expanse of white concrete, forming a cracked surface reminiscent of dried earth, symbolising both loss and resilience.

Burri's innovative techniques and material choices positioned him as a precursor to movements like Arte Povera, influencing artists who sought to challenge traditional art forms. His work has been celebrated in major retrospectives, including the 2015 exhibition Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting at the Guggenheim New York.

Through his exploration of materiality and form, Burri conveyed themes of suffering, healing and the human condition, leaving an indelible mark on the trajectory of contemporary art.