Luisa Rota Sperti is an Italian artist born in Lecco (Italy).
She lives and draws in Somana, a hamlet of Mandello del Lario, at the foot of the high walls of the Grigne. Active since 1972, her expressive tool is the pencil and her works are divided into cycles, rich of inner and outer references, to history, to the great sagas, to mythology.
ARIA ACQUA FUOCO TERRA - AUTORITRATTO - (72X51) 1987
Her main theme is the Mountain: the physical ascent, the spiritual ascent.
It is the mountain of the initiation, of the magic proof, the conclusive shape of the great cycle
Signore degli Anelli (Lord of the Rings) (1979-1982, 33 plates);
SIGNORE DEGLI ANELLI - BARBALBERO - (50X70)
SIGNORE DEGLI ANELLI - CAVALIERI DI ROHAN - (50X70)
It is the spiritual ascent strongly evident in the Buddhacärita (1986-1989, 21 plates).
Here, the mountain does not have rock appearance but it is expressed on a metaphysical plan.
BUDDHACÄRITA - IL BODHISATTVA VA A SCUOLA. IL MAESTRO CONFUSO
BUDDHACÄRITA - LA VITTORIA SU MÂRA (Central panel of the Triptych)
Luigi De Anna, in one of his 1997 essays on Buzzati and the mountain, writes:
" it'd be possible to say that only a mystic like San Francesco, or Milarepa (Tibetan wise man, XI century) could reach to fully explain the secret of the mountain".
It is between 1989 and 1991 that are created first the cross-shaped polyptyc in ten plates Francesco e gli uccelli (Francesco and the birds) inspired by a poem of Gregory Corso, where the mount Verna, the soul mount, receives and protects creatures, then the triptych Milarepa (his crimes, his evidences and his liberation); here the silence of the ice mountain circles the hermit silence. In 1993, Franco Maria Ricci in Milan exposed some plates of the Francesco.
FRANCESCO E GLI UCCELLI - (50X50)
MILAREPA - (52X52)
LE TENTAZIONI DI SANT'ANTONIO EREMITA, Central panel of the Triptych - (51X35)
In the cycle Sacre Montagne (Sacred Mountains) (1992-1993, 24 plates) there are together the most famous sacred mountains of the world, with those of her own roots.
SACRE MONTAGNE - MONTAGNE ROCCIOSE - (50X70)
SACRE MONTAGNE -
MONTE MOREGALLO CON I CORNI DI CANZO E IL CORNIZZOLO DAL LUNGO LAGO - (72X52)
SACRE MONTAGNE -
IL MONTE MAGNODENO CON SULLO SFONDO IL RESEGONE DALLA CASCINA "BINDUN"- (35X72)
In 1994 she fell in love with one of the most singular Dolomites peak, the Pelmo, in eight very intimate plates. Between these "Monte Pelmo parete nord" that Luisa thinks is her best work made.
MONTE PELMO PARETE NORD - (72X60)
The return to the spirit places is clear in the cycle dedicated to the Monasteri delle Meteore (19 plates, 1995) and in Dieci Tori (Ten Bulls). In these ten plates (1995-1996) Luisa makes an abstract of her life through "her" mountains (Grigne, Kailãsh, Dolomites...).
MONASTERI DELLE METEORE - MONASTERO DELLA SANTA TRINITA' - (50X46)
MONASTERI DELLE METEORE - MONASTERO DELLA METAMORFOSI- (59X72)
DIECI TORI - IL TORO TRASCESO - (51X51)
The year 1997 is dedicated to a moment of deep concentration:
In the Vitae Patrum (polyptych in 7 plates) it is the heart of the rock to speak with the voice of the hermits.
In the same year the Racconto di un pellegrino russo (4 plates) with an homage to Allen Ginsberg. These works have been exhibited in Rome in the Chiesa di Santa Lucia del Gonfalone in 2003, the guide to the reading of the works is by Carlo Ghielmetti.
ROCAMADOUR - (72X51)
In 1998, mountains come back under the spot, with the great Dolomites panning
(5 plates) and the symbolic pilgrimage of the Viaggiatori incantati e pellegrini (Enchanted Travellers and Pilgrims). With 10 plates, Luisa travels ancient Tibet on the tracks of explorers, alpinists, "missionaries" that there have lived parts of life rich of meaning. The cycle is closed with an homage to Reinhold Messner.
In 2000 is born the cycle most beloved: Pino, la morte e il Pelmo (Pino, the Death and the Pelmo Mountain), that during the making of the drawings, became a written tale. In eleven plates, it is developed a personal pilgrimage round the Pelmo ("My own Kailãs", as the author says) done with her own boots, and with the senses of a "magic child". This work is deeply liked to the activity that, since 1989, Luisa does inside the mental health department at the Hospital "A. Manzoni" of Lecco, drawing, painting, modelling with the patients. A smaller version of the "tale" (by Francesca De Giacomina) is selected for the fourth edition of "Le montagne incantate: Leggende ed Immagini - Verzauberte Berge: Sagen und Bilder" (Città di Bolzano - Stadt Bozen) and published in catalog.
In the same year 2000, with the collaboration of the councillor culture officer of the Comune di Lecco, the Galleria Bellinzona (Lecco-Milano) which has followed and helped Luisa's artistic path organized a very important anthological exhibition with a refined catalog with a foreword by Alfredo Chiappori.
In 2002 the same gallery, in collaboration with the Galleria Due Emme and with L'Osteria del Viaggiatore publishes a Calendario della montagna (in Italian and English): Grigne: dodici guide e un poeta (Grigne: 12 Guides and a Poet) in which the great guides of the Dolomites are mixed with the shelters of her house.
After the trip round the mount by Pino and the Pelmo, returns the desire to celebrate the physical ascent , with the spiritual ascent, through the protagonists of the great classic alpinism. So are born the thirty-two plates of the ambitious cycle Dalle cattedrali della terra ai sentieri del cielo (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths) (2000-2002) in which it is embraced one century of great alpinism, by lyrically telling the protagonists, through a parallelism with death and the mountains inspired also by Dino Buzzati's writings, perhaps the deepest intermediary between classic alpinism and big public.
In 2003 the social themes are the bases for the creation of a Mappa del mondo - World Map (12 plates) that becomes a perpetual calendar, with the purpose to make know and finance Fair commerce projects. It is accompanied by a folder, (dated and signed in 100 copies) with the reproduction of the 12 sheets, with a moving text by Don Angelo Casati. This initiative is presented during the Immagimondo 2005.
Then she goes back to her mountains and, during 2004, takes part to the Lecco celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the ascent of the Western wall of the Cerro Torre.
The "Ragni": Giuliano Maresi, Walter Bonatti, Carlos E. Comesaña, Giuseppe Lafranconi and Sergio Ghiraldini in front of the Fitz Roy scene-painting
CERRO TORRE
Inspired by the reading of the drafts of the Casimiro Ferrari biography by Alberto Benini, she created a polyptych called: Nessun uomo è un'isola (No Man is an Island). In this work, around Miro, there are the faces of Riccardo Cassin, Carlo Mauri, Walter Bonatti, Giuseppe (Det) Alippi, Pino Negri and Lorenzo Mazzoleni. With the portraits, she makes big acrylic showing some important Patagonian peaks. For the same initiative and for once in her life (so she says) engraves a Cerro Torre, in 100 copies. (with thanks to Giancarlo Vitali...)
CERRO TORRE
Between the works in the recent years, there is a fairy-portrait inspired to the tragedy of the Vajont, written and drawn in five plates: the portrait is one of Mauro Corona.
Simultaneously she plays carving the wood creating Pezzi di luna (Pieces of Moon)
GRANDE LUNA
By continuing a path between mountains and legends, she "falls in love" of the Sasso cavallo (in the Grigne) and she works a lot about it joining legends to histories, but it is not polite speaking of things still unfinished.
Her works (and herself..) remain a little mysterious and stay, sometimes, hidden for years before coming outside at the light. Is it destiny or choice?
Some little works may be found in the "high" Grigne shelters: Elisa, Bietti, Rosalba, Brioschi e Bogani.
In the summer of 2005 Pino, la morte e il Pelmo (Pino, the Death and the Pelmo Mountain) became Camminarte: a walk between shelters, inside which the eleven plates will be permanently exposed.
CAMMINARTE
CAMMINARTE
In October 2005 at "Oltre le vette" (metaphors, men, places of the mountain)
It was presented the great cycle Dalle cattedrali della terra ai sentieri del cielo (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths).
On the magazine "La buona neve", Rolly Marchi writes about it with enthusiasm.
OLTRE LE VETTE
In 2006 spring the same cycle was exhibited in Valmadrera with the partnership of the alpinism school Attilio and Piero Piacco, and offered the starting for a few moments to reflect about going over the mountains and about alpinism tales, centred on the figure and activity of Dino Buzzati (with readings of chosen texts), Claudio Corti and Ivo Rabanser.
VALMADRERA - ALBERTO BENINI, CLAUDIO CORTI AND CARLO CACCIA.
In 2006 the same arrives at the prestigious Messner Mountain Museum "Dolomites", the "Museo nelle Nuvole" on Monte Rite (2181 m). The exhibition is in particular dedicated to Dino Buzzati after 100 years of his birth.
Remembering Dino Buzzati, a moving reading of Loris Tormen at the inauguration. Reinhold Messner, during the press conference defined the paintings "... of great delicacy and value". The special preparation of the hall was made by the museum director, Elettra Monico.
LUISA ROTA SPERTI AND REINHOLD MESSNER - MUSEO NELLE NUVOLE
LUISA ROTA SPERTI AND REINHOLD MESSNER - MUSEO NELLE NUVOLE
LUISA AND FABIO - MUSEO NELLE NUVOLE
(Photo by Giancarlo Mauri)
It is there, in front of the beloved Pelmo that was born the idea of the new cycle to which she is working (for a long time, she says).
There was born the new walk Ai confini del cielo (At the boundaries of the Sky).
Recreating and slowly finding again the colour, Luisa turns back and, armed with imaginary maps, (and her own dreams), she goes into the valleys, finds again her own paths and walks again through a deep research on the Dolomites legends. Here, no more alpinists, climbers or singers of the mountain with her to celebrate it, but little figures of women: salvages of the woods, "Viviane", "gane", "anguane" and water nymphs and "trude", and "bergostane"; princesses and shepherdess.
So goes down and hidden in the world she likes best, and that protects her (so she says).
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)
Dalle Cattedrali della Terra ai Sentieri del Cielo (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths), dedicated to Dino Buzzati
My land Tibet
...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 at the exibition with art director Maurizio Nichetti (Photos: Ruggero Ferrari).
Luisa and the president of the Trento Film Festival, Italo Zandonella Callegher.
Video: Tre cavalli e un pezzo di luna. Sinfonia di sassi, segni e sogni.
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.
Attilio Longhi, Luisa and Tona Sironi Diemberger (Photo taken at a CAI Valmadrera meeting)
The antological exhibition "My Land Tibet" is available to exhibit by request of councils, associations, galleries... There are also available: a catalogue and a movie.
For Christmas 2008, Luisa made a Grande Presepe del Noce (Great Crib of the Walnut).
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
Pdf poster ( 1,99 mb)
At the first evening of the exhibition, after a foreward by Alberto Benini and Marco Tieghi, it has been shown the movie "My Land Tibet" with Ferruccio Ferrario as director.
Photos and movies at the first evening.
This ehibition has been a success and, during the two months, Luisa made a specific exhibition by modifying the notebooks inside the glass, following particular themes or events (like the women's day March 8th) as hommage to the CAI members of Milan.
From 10 to 24 May 2009 at the Torre Viscontea, Piazza XX Settembre in Lecco, Luisa exhibits in
"Guardare in alto" : mountains photographed by alpinist and interpreted by painters and sculptors.
(Adriana Baruffini, Giuliano Maresi and Tiziana Rota, editors).
This exhibition in occasion of the 2009 National Conference of the CAI delegates.
Other artists in the exhibition: Giuseppe Mozzanica, Luigi Milani, Pietro Pedeferri, Pablo Atchugarry, Giansisto Gasparini, Giuliano Collina, Gianni Bolis, Carmen Carabus, Bruno Bianchi.
Since May 2009, Luisa is fellow member of the prestigious "Gruppo Italiano Scrittori di Montagna - Accademia di Arte e Cultura Alpina" (Italian Group of Mountain Writers - Art and Alpine Culture Academy) based in Milan.
TALES, FABLES, LEGENDS AND A SAGA OF THE VAL MERIA
Roana local council, Altopiano di Asiago (VI)
4ª Edition Hoga Zait- Cimbrian Festival
This exhibition is open from 2nd to 31st of July
Mon-Wed-Fri 9.00-13.00 Tue-Thu 9.00-13.00; 14.00-18.00
On Sunday, July 12th at 17,00h in the Canove council town hall, the opening with Luisa and Giancarlo Mauri (alpinist and traveller) For the opening, on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th, the exhibition may be visited: 10.00-12.00; 15.00-19.00
At the same time: “Di albero in albero...”(From tree to tree) voice of Luigi Maniglia
“Tre cavalli e un pezzo di luna” (Three horses and a piece of Moon) a documentary by Ferruccio Ferrario and Ruggero Meles.
Luisa Rota Sperti and the Hoga Zait
In September 2009, at the San Michele Oratorio in the historical complex of Torre de' Busi (Lecco), Luisa made a personal exhibit: Works—Moons of wood—Videos
Two little-wood scarecrows (Giuliano and Olga) are installed permanently in the garden space of the Museum of peasant civilization of the Vallarsa. (Photo: Giancarlo Mauri). Images.
For Christmas 2009, Luisa made a Presepe .
In May 2010 a new book is presented to the "Montagna Libri" inside the Trento Film Festival 2010: La stella del cardo e il covone di fieno, Giuseppe Det Alippi (The star of the thistle and the hay sheaf) a painted and told (in an interview) bio of Giuseppe "Det" Alippi with graphic and photographic portraits. Preface by Reihnold Messner.
In the 2010 summer is confirmed and enriched with new features: the Camminarte at the Monte Pelmo.
A perpetual calendar (beginning June) will show images of the "artistic path" and of the huts that are involved. Calendario Perenne (Perpetual calendar) Camminarte at the Monte Pelmo
From 15 to 18 July 2010 European outdoor fair 2010 - Montura Stand - Installations
July 21st 2010: official Opening of the Museo Civico della Val Fiorentina "Vittorino Cazzetta" - Selva di Cadore (open from July 3rd) with a donation by Luisa of her painting Monte Pelmo Parete Nord
On Saturday 28 August 2010, during the XVI edition of the Film Festival della Lessinia ("life, history and traditions on the mountain" at the festival bookshop),
Luisa attends with an exhibition of her 14 original paintings , illustrating the new book by Paola Favero "Il mistero dei suoni scomparsi" ("The mistery of the vanished sounds"). Foreword by Marco Tonon, music by Nelso. Some pictures
From 1st to 31st August 2010 at the Museo della Civiltà Contadina della Vallarsa, an exhibition of large paintings and scarecrows installations. - "Tra le rocce e il cielo". Poster and some pictures 2010
Special event: on September 16th 18.30h at Villa Buzzati, a meeting to talk about the new Paola Favero's book illustrated by Luisa "Il mistero dei suoni scomparsi"("The mistery of the vanished sounds"), with an exhibit of the original paintings. With the author: Luisa Rota Sperti (painter), Nelso Salton (musician), Marco Tonon (gardener of museums). Some pictures
From 3rd to 30th September 2010 at Villa Buzzati (Belluno) Omaggio alla Leggenda (Homage to the Legend), an exhibition of works from writings by: Karl Felix Wolff, Severino Casara, Giovanna Zangrandi, Ulrike Kindl, Bruna Maria del Lago Veneri, Nausica Zocco. Opening September 3rd, 18.30 h. Poster
On Friday 15th October 2010 17.30h at Palazzo Roberti, via Jacopo da Ponte 34, Bassano del Grappa presentation of the book Il mistero dei suoni scomparsi by Paola Favero with an exhibit of the original draws of Luisa Rota Sperti. A meeting with sounds, words and images by: Paola Favero, Luisa Rota Sperti, Marco Tonon, Nelso Salton and Primo Zancan. Poster
From December 9th 2010 to January 10th 2011, in the atrium of the Lecco's hospital Psychiatry ward : "The Magic Box" - Images from the charming world, an anthological exhibition of painted tales. Paintings and drawings of the Mental Heath ward Hosts and the leader of the painting activity (Luisa Rota Sperti). Exhibition opening: Thursday December 9th, 9.30 AM.
Poster and some images
From December 8th 2010 to January 8th 2011: images, meditations, visits and tours through the Somana cribs (Presepi) Poster and some images
On January 9th 2011, 16:00 hours, in piazza Gaddi at Somana-Bornico (Mandello del Lario's hamlet): readings between the figures of the Somana crib (Presepe). Poster and some images
Luisa made the creatures (the Magi and the animals), Emilio (the expert of the living Presepi) reproduced the places.
On May 3rd 2011 at 11.00 am, in the Exhibit space MontagnaLibri - Piazza Fiera of the Trento Film Festival 2011, will be presented the book La stella del cardo e il covone di fieno, Giuseppe Det Alippi, (The star of the thistle and the hay sheaf), a painted and told (in an interview) biography about Giuseppe "Det" Alippi alpinist-peasant of Pian dei Resinelli (Lecco). A mix of interviews, paintings, reminds and notes from the Grigna to Patagonia with photos and portraits. Foreword by Reihnold Messner. Texts and photos.
Carlo Caccia converses with Luisa, the author.
sponsored by 
From 4th June to 18th September 2011, at the Museo civico della Val Fiorentina "Vittorino Cazzetta" - Selva di Cadore, exhibition of the cycle of paintings Ai confini del cielo, legends in the Dolomiti.
Inauguration: 4th June 17.00h
Meetings with the author: 16th - 17th July, with movies and conversations.
On Thursday, July 28th 18.00th, presentation at Alpstation Brianza of the book
GIUSEPPE “DET” ALIPPI LA STELLA DEL CARDO E IL COVONE DI FIENO (The star of the thistle and the hay sheaf, Giuseppe "Det" Alippi)
published by Montura Editing.
La stella del cardo e il covone di fieno, Giuseppe "Det" Alippi
(The star of the thistle and the hay sheaf, Giuseppe "Det" Alippi)
"Det" as shown in Luisa Rota Sperti's pictures and Carlo Caccia's words, with a foreword by Reinhold Messner. The original paintings are exposed.
With the presence of Luisa Rota Sperti, Carlo Caccia and Roberto Mantovani
Special guest GIUSEPPE “DET” ALIPPI
"... e con gli anni è diventato una forma di yogi delle Alpi, un poeta con poche parole, un saggio come Milarepa, il guardiano del Sasso Cavallo. Lo rimarrà per sempre". (dall'introduzione di Reinhold Messner)
Marco "Butch" Anghileri interviews "Det". Video (www.niknakvideo.com)
Reprint of the Mappamondo calendario perpetuo dedicato ai piccoli della Terra (Globe perpetual calendar dedicated to the children of Earth) with a different typo edition. Calendar
Saturday, November 19th 2011: Alpstation opening at Sarzana (SP)
Luisa and Daniele Lira conversate with Manolo.
Luisa with Daniele Lira and Fausto De Stefani (.... he has adopted some scarecrows)
On the November and December 2011 Skialper magazine: Viola e Ecomago photos by Daniele Lira.
Saturday, December 3rd 2011 Alpstation opening in Cles (TN) with a KIDS new shop.
To the people at the opening, a gift was given: the Quaderno di Campo
and an attending diploma
Luisa's comment to the drawing she chose to do in this way:
"If we drop the colors, all children are equal".
Christmas 2011: nativity in Somana - Texts and Pictures
At the end, a circle closes: at the beginning, Men were the subject with Dalle cattedrali della terra ai sentieri del cielo (From Earth Cathedrals to the Sky Paths); then it has been completed (at this moment) the Women's cycle and the legends in the Dolomites Ai confini del cielo (At the Sky Boundaries) and, finally, the eyes of the artist pointed the Children.
The results: a second book with Paola Favero is to be published, Stella Stellina has been published and enhanced, a Quaderno di Campo with a certificate (which is a painting also) has been made, on the go there is La Schola del Bonduhãc (with an elaboration both in drawing and writing); as witness of the evolution of the Scarecrows' game, to Sogni nel vento (Dreams in the wind) is upcoming. Last but not least, another cosy interactive book to read and draw is arriving this year, but it will be a little surprise.
The illustration work has temporarily halted the cycles, but ideas are still present and there will be time to...
© Luisa Rota Sperti
Salita Belvedere 7 - Frazione Somana - 23826 Mandello del Lario (LC) - Italia
Telefono +39 0341 702056 - Cellulare + 39 338 5922484
Mail: info@luisarotasperti.com - Credits