Join The Collection to save, track, and explore works like this.

Alighiero Boetti — Classifying the Thousand Longest Rivers in the World
Alighiero Boetti — Classifying the Thousand Longest Rivers in the World
Alighiero Boetti — Classifying the Thousand Longest Rivers in the World
Alighiero Boetti — Classifying the Thousand Longest Rivers in the World
Alighiero Boetti

Classifying the Thousand Longest Rivers in the World

1977

A monumental embroidered work, this piece exemplifies Boetti's signature practice of delegating artistic production to Afghan artisans, blurring the boundaries between authorship, craft, and conceptual art. The work presents an obsessive, systematic cataloguing of the world's longest rivers rendered in intricate textile form, transforming geographic data into a visually dense and meditative grid. Through this act of classification, Boetti explores themes of order and chaos, knowledge and its limitations, while elevating anonymous collaborative labor to the realm of fine art.

Medium
From Turner to Cezanne: five remarkable works on paper
Dimensions
Signed
Yes

Notes

LITERATURE J-C. Ammann, Alighiero Boetti Catalogo generale Tomo secondo, Milan, 2012, No. 909 (d'autres exemplaires illustrés en couleurs pp. 270-271). FURTHER DETAILS Cette œuvre est enregistrée à l'Archivio Alighiero Boetti, Rome, sous le No. 9489, et est accompagnée d'un certificat d'authenticité. NOTICE Veuillez noter que cette œuvre est enregistrée à l'Archivio Alighiero Boetti, Rome, sous le No. 9489, et est accompagnée d'un certificat d'authenticité. Please note that this work is registered in the Archivio Alighiero Boetti, Rome under No. 9489 and it is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Conditions of sale Brought to you by Elisabetta Vitullo Junior Specialist, Head of Day Sale EVITULLO@CHRISTIES.COM +33 (0)1 40 76 85 68

🔨 Auction Lot

Art Contemporain

Lot 211

Start the Discussion

Request access to join the discussion

About this work

Alighiero Boetti, Classifying the Thousand Longest Rivers in the World, 1977

A monumental embroidered work, this piece exemplifies Boetti's signature practice of delegating artistic production to Afghan artisans, blurring the boundaries between authorship, craft, and conceptual art. The work presents an obsessive, systematic cataloguing of the world's longest rivers rendered in intricate textile form, transforming geographic data into a visually dense and meditative grid. Through this act of classification, Boetti explores themes of order and chaos, knowledge and its limitations, while elevating anonymous collaborative labor to the realm of fine art.

Medium
From Turner to Cezanne: five remarkable works on paper
Dimensions
16 x 6 cm
Year
1977
Signed
Hand-signed by the artist
Seen at
Christie's, London, United Kingdom

Related themes

Male Artist, Late Twentieth Century, Conceptual Art, Cartographic Subject, Italian Artist, Systematic Mapping, Neutral Palette, Works on Paper, Arte Povera, Text-Based Art

More works by Alighiero Boetti