THE WHITE AS THE TRUE ESSENCE OF THINGS
Lorenzo and Simona Perrone are two kindred spirits who met later in life, each with a rich personal journey behind them. Lorenzo was born in Milan and, after studying painting at the Castello Sforzesco and attending the Scuola del Libro at the Umanitaria, was drawn into the world of communication and advertising, living between Milan, London, and New York. Simona Vanzetto, on the other hand, hails from Florence—the quintessential city of art. Surrounded from a young age by history and masterpieces, she developed a deep passion for beauty and nature. She began her professional journey in refined and elegant Paris, where she expressed herself through costume design and collaborated with various fashion magazines and renowned photographers.
But life is full of surprises, changes of direction, and returns to one’s roots. And so it was for Simona and Lorenzo: in the mid-1990s, she decided to return to her beloved Tuscan hills, and in 2000, he left the chaotic world of advertising to devote himself to his true passion—sculpture.
2006 was the year they met. From the very beginning, a special bond and a unique harmony emerged between them, leading to a profound partnership in both life and art. Aware of the power of their creativity—and eager to share it—they began developing together the idea of LibriBianchi, the artistic project that has accompanied them ever since.
LIBRI BIANCHI
It is a project they have carried forward for over twenty years, rooted in the exploration of the world of books to strongly reaffirm the essential link between books and culture as a synonym for civilization. Their sculptures are made from real books salvaged from recycling, which they transform using a range of materials—from white paint to barbed wire. And it is precisely through this process that the magic happens: the book is no longer just a book, but, transformed into sculpture, becomes an archetype—an eternal symbol of culture and knowledge.
Over time, their artistic research has evolved—not only in terms of content but also in the choice of materials. In addition to paper, they began experimenting with bronze, a material perfectly suited to conveying a sense of eternity that aligns beautifully with their philosophy.
Alongside metal, wood also plays a significant role: another key intent of LibriBianchi is to mend the rift between humanity and Nature, which becomes a powerful source of inspiration. In the series of works titled Metamorphosis, the book merges with wood in a process that symbolically takes it back to its origins—to become Tree once again.
INSTALLATIONS, TOTEMS, AND ARTIVISM
Their ability to approach often dramatic themes with grace and delicacy is one of the most compelling aspects of their work. A memorable example is the piece they dedicated in 2008 to Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist assassinated in Moscow for exposing the atrocities of the Chechen war. The artwork speaks for itself: a book pierced by five holes, a subtle reference to the five bullets that struck the journalist.
Or also “Days of War”, an installation that began on February 24, 2023 (the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine). The artists made the public active participants in this evocative installation: starting from February 24, 2023, day by day, thanks to contributions from those who added a wounded LibroBianco for each day of war, the pile of paper victims grew continuously. Next to it, a screen displayed the count of the volumes, sadly matching the number of days of the war. Due to its strong emotional impact, the artwork was also exhibited at the Shoah Memorial in Milan, a deeply symbolic place.
The concept of the totem is another fundamental element for the two artists. For Native Americans, totems symbolized a spiritual connection between humans and the natural world, embodying a primitive form of environmentalism. Similarly, Lorenzo and Simona’s totems celebrate more spiritual and intimate themes related to the human experience.
Simona and Lorenzo want to be active participants in history; as artists, they cannot remain neutral. Their art thus embraces artivism—a concept that has recently emerged in response to armed conflicts and various social causes. What is striking, however, is the way these two artists engage with history and current events: their works do not shout protest but rather approach it in a deeply intimate manner.
