Ugo La Pietra's 'Viaggio sul Reno' Artist Book and Exhibition
Ugo La Pietra has published an artist book titled 'Viaggio sul Reno' with Artphilein, Lugano, in 2020. The book recounts a journey along the Rhine River in September 1974, undertaken as part of the Global Tools group (1973-1975) alongside Franco Vaccari, Gianni Pettena, and Guido Arra (Gruppo Comunicazione). The work combines photographs, maps, drawings, tickets, and notes, exploring themes of identity, communication, and the relationship between internal and external space. The journey was an open-ended experience where participants traveled by day and stopped at night, observing how people interact and either lose or reinforce their identity. The book includes reflections on time, boredom, and the passive experience of being shown photos by locals. La Pietra closes the book with a quote by Ennio Flaiano comparing travel to watching time flow away like water. An exhibition of the book is on view at Spazio Choisi 02 in Lugano until September 3, 2021.
Key facts
- Ugo La Pietra published 'Viaggio sul Reno' with Artphilein in 2020.
- The book documents a journey along the Rhine in September 1974.
- The journey was part of Global Tools 1973-1975.
- Participants included Ugo La Pietra, Franco Vaccari, Gianni Pettena, and Guido Arra.
- The book combines photographs, maps, drawings, tickets, and notes.
- An exhibition of the book is at Spazio Choisi 02 in Lugano until September 3, 2021.
- The book has 80 pages and costs SFr. 55.
- La Pietra quotes Ennio Flaiano on travel and time.
Entities
Artists
- Ugo La Pietra
- Franco Vaccari
- Gianni Pettena
- Guido Arra
- Ennio Flaiano
Institutions
- Artphilein
- Spazio Choisi 02
- Gruppo Comunicazione
- Global Tools
Locations
- Lugano
- Switzerland
- Rhine