Luigi Bonotto, Fluxus collector and industrialist, dies at 84

Luigi Bonotto, the Italian entrepreneur and art collector who amassed one of the world's most significant collections of Fluxus and visual poetry, died on November 19 at age 84. Born in 1941 into a Veneto family where art and work were intertwined, he was introduced to museums by his father Giovanni. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, forming personal relationships with artists Tancredi, Vedova, and Santomaso. In 1972 he chose business, bringing an artistic sensibility to the textile and furniture sectors. His encounter with Duchamp, John Cage, and figures like Francesco Conz, Rosanna Chiessi, and Emily Harvey drew him to Fluxus. With Emmet Williams he discovered Concrete, Visual, and Sound Poetry. His company and homes in Molvena and Bassano became creative hubs where international artists produced works, photographs, editions, and even personalized grappa bottles. This activity led to the Bonotto Collection, comprising over 20,000 digitized documents, recognized as a premier Fluxus archive. In 2013, the Fondazione Bonotto was launched at IUAV in Venice to support cultural projects linking art and business. His sons Giovanni and Lorenzo continue the company, with Giovanni developing the "Fabbrica Lenta" (Slow Factory) concept, opposing industrial standardization and championing craftsmanship.