Enrico Baj Centenary: Artist Books Exhibition at Biblioteca Braidense

To mark the 100th anniversary of Enrico Baj's birth (Milan, 1924 – Vergiate, 2003), the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense in Milan, in collaboration with the Accademia di Brera and the Archivio Baj di Vergiate, presents an exhibition focused on his artist books. Twenty-six volumes trace Baj's creative journey, intertwining art, literature, friendships, and society. Baj co-founded Nuclear Art in 1951 with Sergio Dangelo, a movement reacting against academicism and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Paris, he connected with Surrealists and Marcel Duchamp, and embraced 'Pataphysics, the science of imaginary solutions. His artist books reflect these influences, featuring collaborations with writers like Raymond Queneau and Alda Merini. Notable works include a cover made of Lego bricks for 'La cravate ne vaut pas une médaille', a Meccano frontispiece for Queneau's text, and collages incorporating lace, labels, and vintage photographs. The exhibition highlights Baj's playful yet critical stance on militarism and societal robotization.