Luigi Serafini: The Artist Behind the Unreadable Codex Seraphinianus
Born in Rome in 1949, Luigi Serafini is the mind behind the Codex Seraphinianus, an encyclopedia written in asemic script, which was first released in 1981 and has since become a coveted collector's piece. In a 2022 interview, he reflected on both the Codex and his subsequent work, the Pulcinellopaedia Seraphiniana, which were both reissued in 2016. He began the Codex in September 1976 after being inspired by a trip to the US in 1971. While he refutes any esoteric interpretations, he hints at whimsical alien communications. The Pulcinellopaedia arose from a 1982 commission for a Pulcinella mask for the Venice Carnival, published in 1984. In 2003, he designed the Materdei station for Naples Metro and created a poster for Federico Fellini's La voce della Luna (1990). Initially, he intended the Codex to remain anonymous.
Key facts
- Codex Seraphinianus first published in 1981 in two volumes.
- Serafini was born in Rome in 1949.
- He began the Codex in September 1976 after a 1971 trip to the US.
- The Codex uses asemic writing, meaning without semantic content.
- Pulcinellopaedia Seraphiniana was first published in 1984 by Longanesi.
- A 2016 edition by Rizzoli includes a plate with Batman and Pulcinella.
- Serafini designed the Materdei metro station in Naples in 2003.
- He created the poster for Fellini's La voce della Luna (1990).
- Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut, was born in Rome.
- Serafini initially wanted the Codex to be anonymous.
Entities
Artists
- Luigi Serafini
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini
- Federico Fellini
- Roberto Benigni
- Paolo Villaggio
- Mario Martone
- Roberto De Simone
- Luca De Filippo
- Alessandro Mendini
- Achille Bonito Oliva
- Franco Maria Ricci
- Maurizio Scaparro
- Anton Giulio Bragaglia
- Giandomenico Tiepolo
- Nino Rota
- Tim Burton
- Italo Calvino
- Umberto Eco
- Roland Barthes
- Totò
- Michael Collins
- Pietro Barilla
- Mario Spagnol
Institutions
- Artribune
- Biennale Teatro
- Longanesi
- Rizzoli
- Mondadori
- Barilla
- Voiello
- ANM
- British Museum
- Punta della Dogana
- François Pinault Collection
- Marvel
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Piazza di Spagna
- Via Sant'Andrea delle Fratte 30
- New York
- United States
- Venice
- Naples
- Piedigrotta
- Canal Grande
- Magazzini del Sale
- Punta della Dogana
- Materdei
- Via Leone Marsicano
- Caffè Canova
- Piazza del Popolo
- Viale Regina Margherita
- Via Tevere 16
- Rimini
- Pedaso
- Adriatic Sea
- Wuhan
- America