EmilioIsgrò
Biography
Emilio Isgrò (1937. Sicily,Italy) is an Italian artist, poet, and writer known for his groundbreaking use of erasure as an artistic technique. His work has played a significant role in the development of conceptual art and visual poetry, challenging traditional notions of language and meaning. Isgrò moved to Milan in 1956, where he began his career as a writer and poet. His early works, including the poetry collection Fiere del Sud, reflected his literary background. In 1964, he introduced the technique of erasure, a process in which he selectively removed parts of printed texts, transforming them into conceptual artworks. By applying this method to books, encyclopedias, and historical documents, he created a new form of visual language that questioned how knowledge is constructed and communicated. Isgrò’s practice evolved throughout the 1960s and 1970s, expanding beyond printed materials to include large-scale installations and performances. His most famous works include his erased editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which highlight the tension between the preservation and disappearance of knowledge. His visual and literary experiments positioned him at the forefront of Italian conceptual art, earning him a place in multiple editions of the Venice Biennale(1972, 1978, 1986, 1993). In 1977, he was awarded the first prize at the São Paulo Art Biennial, further cementing his international reputation. Beyond visual art, Isgrò is an accomplished author, having written novels, plays, and essays. His novel L'avventurosa vita di Emilio Isgrò was shortlisted for the Strega Prize in 1974, demonstrating his influence across artistic disciplines. His literary works, much like his visual art, explore themes of language, censorship, and historical narrative.