Berni receiving the prize of the Biennial of Venice

He won the Engraving and Drawing Great Prize at the XXXI International Art Biennial of Venice. His involvement as special guest of the Argentine presentation consisted of ten collages and five xylographies in large sizes, works dedicated to Juanito Laguna, in addition to five inks of the series Pampa y cielo. The other awarded artists were Alfred Mannessier, Alberto Giacometti and Giuseppe Capogrossi.

From the beginning of the 1960s he made experiments including recycled materials in the xylography block, creating his “xilo-collages”. Of the five engravings presented in Venice, Juanito pesca con red and Juanito bañándose, both of 1961, already contained scraps and rests of metal pieces which are found in the industrial suburbs where the character acts. The procedure was repeated in 1962 in Juanito pescando and in El último payador, a print of extraordinary dimensions (155 x 220 cm.).