Piero Manzoni. Achromes. Linea Infinita. Neverending Line

The first book to bring together two of the artist's best known series of works, the Achromes (1957- 1963) and the Linee (1959-1963), focusing on the relationship between these two bodies of work and on Manzoni's commitment to developing forms that created an intrinsic link between materials and the idea of the infinite.

In December 1957 Manzoni wrote: "The space-surface of the picture concerns the self-analytical process only as a space of freedom in which we go to searching [...]. Here the image acquires form in its vital function: it cannot be valid by what it recalls, explains or expresses (if anything, the question is to found) or want to be or to be able to be explained as an allegory of a physical process: it is valid only as what it is: being". At the same time, Manzoni was producing the first "white" or "colourless" paintings, later titled Achromes.

Initially, the creation of the "white works" took place within the context of international monochromatic research, but Manzoni wanted to go beyond mere monochromy in order to find new artistic ways. The cover of this volume is the first faithful reproduction of one of the Achromes, regarding both, canvas and cut. The whole work is protected in a plexiglass box, maintaining the book pure white and easy to be carried.