Cassa (1997) wood and fur cm 16x58x18
Nostra signora degli stracci (1996) wood, varnished iron and rags cm 320x345x95
Porta d’Occidente (1996) wood cm 215x96x50
Wood is always present in the sculptures from these years, whether being the only material used, or in a more discreet way. Very often metal is also employed, sometimes with rags and old hardware; in one case animal fur, in another resin.
The wooden parts were made from old fir beams dismantled from a roof, preserving their rectangular cross section, and making cuts of various lengths, or from other recycled wood. The beam parts were used to create the piers of a portal structure, or objects made to be laid on the floor, in both cases without the use of metal. But generally, the wood became complementary to the metal parts of the work. The metal parts have always maintained a gregarious function, aimed at enhancing the characteristics of the organic material with their mineral coldness and the rigor of their lines.
The wooden works are generally medium to large in size. Especially in the larger ones, the installation aspect tends to prevail over the sculptural one. In 1997, my work with woods was awarded the Mannucci Sculpture Prize.
1997
Cristiano Berti, curated by Armando Ginesi, text by Laura Monaldi, 4th Edgardo Mannucci Sculpture Prize, Palazzo dei Priori, Arcevia, Italy
1998
Tre scultori marchigiani, curated by Armando Ginesi, text by Ugo Castagnotto, Atelier dell’Arco Amoroso, Ancona, Italy
III Volume. Scultura contemporanea in Piemonte, curated by Enrico Debandi and Davide Cabodi, Porticos of Conte Rosso Square, Avigliana, Italy
1996
Testimonianza, interpretazione e profezia, curated by Armando Ginesi, Premio Marche 1996 – Ancona Biennale of Contemporary Art, Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona, Italy
Accordo, curated by Armando Ginesi, Contemporaneo Arte, Jesi, Italy
2006
Tinti, Gabriele, «Cristiano Berti», in Le Marche e il XX secolo. Atlante degli artisti, ed. by Armando Ginesi, Milan: Motta, p. 149
1998
Castagnotto, Ugo, «Cristiano Berti», in Tre scultori marchigiani, exhibition leaflet, Ancona: Province of Ancona
Debandi, Enrico and Davide Cabodi, «III Volume», in III Volume. Scultura contemporanea in Piemonte, exhibition catalogue, Avigliana: Municipality of Avigliana
1997
Felicetti, Gino, «Il Premio Mannucci. Una palestra di scultori marchigiani», Corriere Adriatico (Ancona), Senigallia, CXXXIII, 157: June 10, p. 41
«Il Premio Mannucci a Berti e Barbadoro», Corriere Adriatico (Ancona), Cultura & Spettacoli, CXXXIII, 143: May 27, p. 48
Monaldi, Laura, Cristiano Berti, exhibition leaflet of the 4th Edgardo Mannucci Sculpture Prize, Arcevia: Rotary Club Altavallesina
Pierucci, Alberto, «’Accordo’ per scoprire gli artisti», Il Resto del Carlino – Ancona (Bologna), Jesi e Fabriano, CXII, 32: February 2, p. AN/5
Pierucci, Alberto, «Premio d’arte allo jesino Cristiano Berti», Il Resto del Carlino – Ancona (Bologna), Jesi e Fabriano, CXII, 151: June 4, p. AN/5
«Premiato Cristiano Berti», Voce della Vallesina (Jesi), XLV, 20: May 25 – 31, p.6
Savini, Enrico, «A Berti e Barbadoro il Premio Mannucci», Il Centro – Marche (Ancona), Cultura & Spettacoli, XII, 147: May 31, p. 13
1996
«Cristiano Berti: ‘Il destino del corpo è l’unica certezza…’», Jesi e la sua Valle (Jesi), XXXV, 23: December 7, p. 10
Ginesi, Armando, «Testimonianza, interpretazione e profezia», in Premio Marche 1996, Milan: Mazzotta, 1996, pp. 73 – 78, 127 – 128
Ginesi, Armando, Accordo, exhibition leaflet, Jesi: Contemporaneo Arte
Pierucci, Alberto, «Il declino della materia. L’arte concettuale di Cristiano Berti utilizza elementi umili», Il Resto del Carlino – Ancona (Bologna), Jesi, CXI, 308: November 14, p. AN/5