By publishing this significant selection of Ugo La Pietra's body of writings, the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte is paying tribute to a great artist, intellectual and cultural promoter who, more than anyone else within the Italian scenario, has taken care of metiers d'art and genius loci with dedication and passion, always aiming at knowing, protecting and enhancing the great Italian savoir-faire. His action, both theoretical and practical, proved to be an essential leverage for the survival and sometimes recovery of extraordinary artisan businesses connected to our territories: a unique legacy of skills and a great artistic and productive asset.
This collection of articles and essays is, to this day, a thought-provoking record of a long artistic path and of an equally long critical path made of reviews, books, manifestos, exhibitions and collections.
A path that is still raising essential questions about the relationship between art, applied arts and design, in a cultural as well as ethical, social and environmental perspective.
