Berto Lardera

[1] He was born in La Spezia, Italy, the son of a naval engineer.

[2] He was self-taught and his leanings towards monumental, metallic sculptures may have been influenced by the sights he grew up with in the naval dockyards.

Lardera's sculpture began with abstract metal structures based on two dimensions, or a flat geometrical plane, which challenged the conventional form of sculpture based around volume and enclosed spaces.

Later his work became more diverse, with his geometrical constructions branching out into the horizontal as well as the vertical plane and often resulting in series based on a single theme, such as his Miracles, Aubes and Archanges series.

He used a unique technique, cutting forms and designs with his sculpting tools in thick iron plates from which the prints were pulled.