Le ultime parole famose.

Turin.: Self-published by the artist., 1967. Original grey wrappers, stapled.. (18 x 13 cm).. pp. (16). Text only, printed in both Italian and English (English translation by Henry Martin). Pistoletto’s first book, published in an unspecified edition (although only 60 copies were declared by the artist to have been produced). A landmark Arte Povera publication, confirming that writing was not a secondary activity for Pistoletto, but an essential part of his artistic practice. The text is divided into two chapters called ‘La speculazione’ and ‘L’essere’. This concept of the dual self is a theme that has been tackled by a number of contemporary artists worldwide. Pistoletto focused much his artistic career on mirrored works which capture the reflection of the viewer. “Man has always attempted to double himself as a means of attaining self-knowledge” (from ‘Le ultime parole famose’). [Ref. Giorgio Maffei - Libri e documenti. Arte Povera 1966-1980, p. 162; Germano Celant - Book as Artwork 1960/1972, p. 66; Lucy Lippard - The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972, p. 33].