“I have always loathed the material and have always sought the immaterial”
Dadamaino (Emilia Edoarda Maino, Milan 1930-2004)

Dadamaino was an Italian painter and sculptor. She graduated in pharmacy and in 1957 met Piero Manzoni who became a life-long friend. In 1959 she joined the Milan-based experimental group Azimuth (founded by Bonalumi, Castellani and Manzoni) which had connections with Group Zero in Germany, Group Nul in the Netherlands, and Group Motus in France. In 1961 the she took part in a show in the Netherlands, where her name was mistakenly spelt as one word, Dadamaino. From 1963 and onwards she would adopt this name. In 1962 her work was featured in the major Nul group exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. This same year she joined the newly founded Nouvelle Tendence movement with Getulio Alviani, Bruno Munari, Raphael Soto and Enzo Mari. Dadamaino died in Milan in 2004.