Piero Manzoni: The Avant-Garde Artist and His Controversial Creations

Piero Manzoni was an Italian artist who lived from 1933 to 1963. Although he passed away at a young age, he left behind many outrageous works that continue to provoke and inspire.

From Traditional Beginnings to Avant-Garde Revelation

This famous avant-garde artist initially started with traditional methods, using paintbrushes to express his ideas. However, after attending an exhibition by French artist Yves Klein, Manzoni experienced a profound shift in perspective. Inspired by Klein, he decided to embrace the spirit of the times and create more radical works.

Unconventional Artworks

One of Manzoni's early unconventional works involved imprinting his fingerprints on boiled eggs and inviting guests to eat them. He also created 'Artist's Breath', which involved inflating balloons, signing them, and then selling them.

'Artist's Shit': The Ultimate Provocation

In a particularly notorious episode, Manzoni's father exclaimed that his son's works were "a load of shit." This remark inspired Piero to take a literal approach. In 1961, he packaged his own feces in cans at his father's canning factory, labeling them as 'Artist's Shit'. He produced 90 cans, each selling for $37, equivalent to the price of gold at the time, making a pointed commentary on the art market's absurdity.

Legacy and Ongoing Controversy

Manzoni passed away in 1963, but his controversial art continues to gain recognition. Recently, one of his 'Artist's Shit' cans sold for $242,000, illustrating the enduring intrigue surrounding his work.

The Mystery of the Cans

Is there really feces inside the cans? The labels clearly state they contain the artist's fresh excrement, but some of Manzoni's friends claim the cans are filled with plaster. Art dealers who have encountered 'Artist's Shit' report a faint odor of feces around the can edges, suggesting the contents might be genuine. The cans are made of steel, impervious to X-rays, so the only way to confirm their contents would be to open them. However, doing so would destroy their value as art, leaving the mystery unsolved.

Conclusion

Manzoni intended to satirize the art market's obsession with hype and value, and ironically, his works have become highly coveted. If he knew about the high prices his works fetch today, he would likely find it amusing.