Archivio Conz

Décio Pignatari (1927–2012 São Paulo, Brazil) Décio Pignatari was a Brazilian poet, writer, translator, and semiotician, best known as a pioneering figure in Concrete Poetry. Born on August 20, 1927, in Jundiaí, Brazil, he co-founded the Noigandres group alongside Haroldo de Campos and Augusto de Campos, revolutionizing poetry by emphasizing visual structure, typography, and linguistic experimentation. Beyond his work in Brazil, Pignatari engaged deeply with international avant-garde movements, forging connections with artists and theorists across Europe and the Americas. His relationship with Francesco Conz placed him in close dialogue with key figures of Fluxus and other experimental art movements. La Livre – An Homage to Ezra Pound was a project by Francesco Conz, which he pursued from 1986 until one year before his death in 2009. Conz invited artists to participate in the workshops at the Brunnenburg castle, with a total of 59 artists taking part. Pignatari was featured in La Livre VI, further expanding his influence in the realm of visual and conceptual poetry. Among his major works are "Poetamenos" (1953), one of the earliest examples of Concrete Poetry, and "Teoria da Poesia Concreta" (1965), a seminal theoretical text co-authored with the Campos brothers. His visual poems, such as "Beba Coca Cola," remain iconic representations of his fusion of language, advertising, and political critique. His work was featured in significant exhibitions, including "Concrete Poetry: An Exhibition in Four Parts”(2016) at the Walker Art Center and various showcases of Concrete and experimental poetry worldwide. Pignatari’s contributions extended beyond poetry into fields such as translation, semiotics, and advertising. His reinterpretations of major literary works, including translations of Dante and Goethe, showcased his innovative approach to language. His theoretical writings on communication and media remain influential in both literary and academic circles.