Bettino Craxi: Art, Collecting and Politics

The art of Bettino Craxi is, in some ways, something very similar to collecting. There is a clear coherence between what he collected and what he professed: indeed Bettino Craxi has made his objects as an important meeting opportunity between art and politics along a path that explores common history moments. Close to the the French artist Marcel Duchamp’s style who declared everyday-objects works of art, Bettino Craxi made "appropriate" gestures moved by a specific conscience of ethical policy. The result is a passionate research for ways to combine art, freedom, democracy, expressiveness and thought.   

This lithograph portrays the UN Helmet donated by Pérez de Cuéllar  to Bettino Craxi. "Craxi in the world" is a collection of five lithographies dedicated by Bettino Craxi to UN Organizzation. 

Libertè, Fraternité, Égalité is a collection of three lithographs celebrating three important moments in history. Freedom: the anniversary of the liberation of Italy.                                                            

This lithograph is part of a collection of six lithographies.These lithographs are taken from advertising campaigns of the French cigarettes “Melia”. “Melia” was a French brand which manufactured cigarettes in Algeria and sold them in northern Africa during the early twentieth century. It’s not really easy to say what is intended as “vicious” in the “Cigarettes” series, whether smoking or eroticism.

 

This is the introduction of a collection of lithographs depicting pages of books written in Arabic. It was a tribute to Quran and Pope John Paul II presented by Bettino Craxi. During a gathering of young Muslim people in Morocco, Pope John Paul II said in his memorable speech that God is unique, as to encourage the union of monotheistic religions in the worship of one only God. 

Introduction to a collections of lithographs in which are represented some gold coins from the Roman Empire. Initially, they were not popular during the Republican Era and they became widespread in the imperial one; they portray different Roman Emperors.

Introduction to a collection of lithographs which portrays popular Chinese theatre and it has been realized in occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Revolution. It is the symbol of Chinese dedication to work, of the modest lifestyle but rich of experiences and of the achievement of peace.