Luisa Rota Sperti - Biography

LUISA ROTA SPERTI

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Luisa Rota Sperti, born in Lecco, lives and draws in Mandello, at the foot of the Grigne.
She began drawing in 1972 and she has (almost) never left her first tool: pencil.

From the beginning, mountains have been her beloved theme, starting from the great cycles
Signore degli Anelli (Lord of the Rings, 1979-1982, 33 panels) and Buddhacärita (1986-1989, in 21 panels).

It is the "metaphysical" mountain to inspire the cross-shaped polyptych Francesco e gli uccelli
(Francis of Assisi and the birds) inspired to Gregory Corso (exhibited in 1993 by Franco Maria Ricci) and the triptych Milarepa: his Crimes, his Tests and his Redemption.
Sacre Montagne (Holy Mountains1992-1993, 24 panels) flanks them, a trip between the sacred mountains
of our world.

In 1994, for the first time, she focuses her attention on Monte Pelmo (Mount Pelmo, 8 panels).

In the alternate of rocky and symbolic mountains,
Monasteri delle Meteore (Meteors' Monasteries,1995, 19 panels) and Dieci Tori (Ten Bulls) are born, deeply autobiographical works, followed in 1997 by Vitae Patrum (The Lives of the Desert Fathers) where it is the heart of the rocks to speak with hermits' voice.

In the same year it follows the Racconto di un pellegrino russo (Tale of a Russian Pilgrim, 4 panels) with an homage to Allen Ginsberg, exhibited in Rome with explanatory texts by Carlo Ghielmetti.

Five panels dedicated to the Dolomiti (The Dolomites) precedes the symbolic pilgrimage of
Viaggiatori incantati e pellegrini (Enchanted Travellers and Pilgrims) through ancient Tibet upon the tracks of explorers, climbers, missionaries, ended by a Reinhold Messner portrait.

In 2000 Pino, la morte e il Pelmo (Pino, the Death and the Pelmo Mountain) is born, a tale written and drawn around the famous dolomitic peak ("my own Kailãs", as Luisa says) animated by a "magic boy" in touch with the natural elements. This work has been inspired by Luisa's voluntary activity since 1989 in the mental health ward of Lecco hospital. In the same year 2000, the Bellinzona Art Gallery in Milan organizes a wide anthological exhibition, with a catalogue presented by Alfredo Chiappori.
This year is crowned with the printing of the Calendario Grigne: dodici guide e un poeta (Mountain calendar: Grigne 12 Guides and a Poet) where the famous Dolomites' alpine guides pay a visit to the Grigne's alpine refuges.

The stories of the great "heroic" alpinism, mediated by Dino Buzzati's tales, are run through again in the great cycle Dalle cattedrali della terra ai sentieri del cielo (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths, 32 panels 2000-2002) exhibited in Valmadrera and Belluno during important alpine shows and presented by Roberto Mantovani.

In 2003 she tried the contest "Le montagne incantate" at "Castel Roncolo" in Bolzano, where was well mentioned Pino, la morte e il Pelmo.

Social issues inspired the Mappa del mondo (World's map) a perpetual calendar in twelve panels, with a text by don Angelo Casati.

The biography of the alpinist Casimiro Ferrari inspires the polyptych Nessun uomo è un'isola (No Man is an Island) dedicated to the "king of Patagonia". Around him there are teachers, friends and followers, among them Riccardo Cassin, Carlo Mauri, Walter Bonatti.
The Patagonia is shown also in big acrylic patterns dedicated to her most famous peaks and in the engraving Cerro Torre, in which she avails herself of the generous help of Giancarlo Vitali.

Among the works of the last years, there is a fairy-tale/portrait in five panels featuring Mauro Corona, inspired to the tragedy of the Vajont.
It is also possible to find some of her works in the "high" shelters on the Grigne: Elisa, Bietti, Rosalba, Brioschi and Bogani. In the Dolomites Pino, la morte e il Pelmo (Pino, the Death and the Pelmo Mountain) becomes Camminarte (WalkingArt): a route inside the refuges, where the eleven panels will permanently be exposed at the sight of each peak that has inspired them.
The exhibitions "in altitude" reach their top in 2006 with the exhibition dedicated to Dino Buzzati
hosted by the "Messner Mountain Museum Dolomites", the "Museum in the Clouds" on Monte Rite. The Kailash cycle, from June 2007, is a property of the Messner Mountain Museum (Reinhold Messner collection); now, it is at Castel Firmiano, awaiting for a final placing.
From April 22nd to 4 May 2008 Luisa exhibited an Anthological of the Dolomites at the Trento Film Festival. This exhibition included some of her works from: Intorno al Pelmo (Around the Pelmo), My land Tibet, Dalle Cattedrali della Terra ai Sentieri del Cielo (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths) dedicated to Dino Buzzati, ...Ai confini del Cielo (...At the Sky Boundaries) Legends in the Dolomites, homage to Karl Felix Wolff. Inside the exhibition, the movie-documentary Tre cavalli e un pezzo di luna (Three horses and a piece of moon), a symphony of rocks, signs and dreams, by Ferruccio Ferrario and Ruggero Meles. From an idea of Alberto Benini, works portrayals of Mario Spreafico (photographer).

Luisa shows a "sample" of her "Antologia Dolomitica" in Milan, from Saturday 31st May 2008
at the bookshop "Libri di Vetta" in via Stradella 1 - Phone/Fax +39 02 29518815 - www.libridivetta.it
in parallel of the best 56° Trento Film Festival projections at the Apollo cinema.

In the summer of 2008, Luisa Rota Sperti presented Cammina(r)te ai Piani Resinelli. Antological Alpine exhibition at: B&B Ai Frassini, il forno della Grigna, 2184 Restaurant, Porta shed, Soldanella shed. Shed portraits (permanent exhibition) at: Bogani, Bietti-Buzzi, Brioschi, Elisa, Rosalba.

In the autumn of 2008 (from 27 September to 25 October), Luisa exhibits at the Civic Library U. Pozzoli in Lecco: "My Land Tibet - Opere scelte 1977-2007 (My Land Tibet - Selected works 1977-2007)". This exhibition is part of "Immagimondo" - a Festival of travels, places and culture.

From 10th February to 28th March 2009, Luisa Rota Sperti (guest of the Italian Alpine Club of Milan) had an exhibition at the Spaziomontagna in the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II. In exhibition, in this prestigious place, some original works from cycles: "Ai confini del Cielo" (At the Sky Boundaries) legends of the Dolomites (homage to Carlo Felice Wolff); "Dalle Cattedrali della Terra ai Sentieri del Cielo" (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths) (dedicated to Dino Buzzati); "Nessun uomo è un isola" un polittico per Casimiro Ferrari (No Man is an Island: a Polyptych for Casimiro Ferrari) "My Land Tibet"; Lune nel Legno (sculture) Moons in the Wood (sculptures); Carnet di Viaggio. Carnet de Voyage