Berto LARDERA

Biography

Berto Lardera, pseudonym of Roberto Lardera, born on 18 December 1911 in La Spezia (Italy) and died in December 1989 in Paris, was a French sculptor of Italian origin.

Berto Lardera was the son of a shipyard worker. The monumental metal naval sculptures he observed in the shipyards inspired his later creations.

In 1942, he had his first solo exhibition in Milan.

In 1947, Lardera emigrated to Paris where he remained until his death in 1989. He exhibited at the Denise René gallery and then at the Salon de mai and the Salon des réalités nouvelles.

In 1948, 1950 and 1952, Lardera participated in the Venice Biennale.

He then participated in documenta I, documenta II and documenta III in 1955, 1959 and 1964 respectively in Cassel, Germany.

From 1958 to 1961 he was a guest professor (Gastprofessor) at the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg.

At first, Lardera began to make abstract metal structures based on two dimensions, or a geometric plane, which challenged conventional forms of sculpture based on volumes and closed spaces. Later his work became more varied, with geometric constructions in the vertical or horizontal plane often forming series based on a guiding theme such as his Miracles, Dawns or Archangels series.

Lardera used many different metals. He always used the same technique, cutting shapes with tools, never using acids or chemical processes.