An Italian villa never before open to the public houses a trove of artistic creativity and design by one of the central figures of the Italian neo–avant garde. Not far from Milan, in the hills of the northern Italian countryside, lies the estate of famed Italian artist Enrico Baj. This jewel of a book offers a unique lens through which to consider a true artistic giant of the late twentieth century associated with Dada, Surrealism, Art Informel, and CoBrA, as well as Nuclear Art, a movement he cofounded. Organized as a tour of the artist’s home, from full rooms designed with a great attention to detail to entire walls covered floor to ceiling with paintings by the artist to a headboard carved directly into a wall, almost every surface of the house is covered in work made by Baj himself. While his subject matter may have been deeply serious (many of Baj’s works reveal an obsession with nuclear war and the abuse of political power), as this book shows, his work was always playful and vibrant, often incorporating bits of found materials like military medals, seashells, rope, and twine. Whether one focuses on the luxurious trim and tassel of a bedroom curtain or the deeply personal arrangement of treasured sculptures on a dressing room table, every corner of the estate is energized by the element of surprise. This book showcases the artist’s individual touch and provides a wealth of playful vignettes to inspire homeowners, collectors, and artists alike.
