Una discussione sull’arte (A Discussion About Art) is a book written, edited and self-published by Nicola-Matteo Munari with the participation of a small group of art enthusiasts made by friends, family, school mates and an art teacher.

All still young students at that time, since then the author and contributors became a graphic designer, an art collector and art dealer, a contemporary artist, a graphic artist, and a university professor and researcher.

Originated on a late summer evening of 2010, the first contribution to the book was written that same night around 2pm. A passionate discussion developed and continued over the course of an entire year, as originally planned.

The topics addressed in the books range from the definition of art to the role of the art critic, from the function of art in contemporary society to the role of the emotions in judging artworks, etc., questioning the work and thoughts of artists, art historians, theorists and critics including Damien Hirst, Titian, Anselm Kiefer, Marcel Duchamp, Olafur Eliasson and others.

The cover represents the word ‘arte’, the Italian for art, made of vividly coloured letters overprinted onto each other, running from the black to the front flap—a loose homage to Massimo Vignelli’s Knoll poster as well as to Max Huber’s lively graphics.

The book was printed on a small run and only a few copies have survived to this day. I only have one copy, all worn, yellowed and full of notes and underlinings. Anyway, I am still very attached to this book which represents an early project of mine, entirely designed while travelling on the train, sometimes sitting on the floor.

—Nicola-Matteo Munari