Salman Ali was born in Jaghiri (Afghanistan) in 1948. At 18, he left for Kandahar for his military service, then moved to Kabul where he began work at Alighiero Boetti’s One Hotel in 1971. In 1973, Boetti invited Salman to live in Rome, where he continued to work with the artist, but was also a close member of the family. He travelled everywhere with Boetti; he worked as his assistant in his studio, was responsible for running the family home and even looked after the children. In short, his work was “to see that everything ran smoothly so that the boss had no worries”. Even after Boetti’s death, Salman Ali maintained his close relationships with the Boetti family. Today he works at the Fondazione Alighiero e Boetti in Milan.

Salman Ali was born in Jaghiri (Afghanistan) in 1948. At 18, he left for Kandahar for his military service, then moved to Kabul where he began work at Alighiero Boetti’s One Hotel in 1971. In 1973, Boetti invited Salman to live in Rome, where he continued to work with the artist, but was also a close member of the family. He travelled everywhere with Boetti; he worked as his assistant in his studio, was responsible for running the family home and even looked after the children. In short, his work was “to see that everything ran smoothly so that the boss had no worries”. Even after Boetti’s death, Salman Ali maintained his close relationships with the Boetti family. Today he works at the Fondazione Alighiero e Boetti in Milan.

Salman Ali was born in Jaghiri (Afghanistan) in 1948. At 18, he left for Kandahar for his military service, then moved to Kabul where he began work at Alighiero Boetti’s One Hotel in 1971. In 1973, Boetti invited Salman to live in Rome, where he continued to work with the artist, but was also a close member of the family. He travelled everywhere with Boetti; he worked as his assistant in his studio, was responsible for running the family home and even looked after the children. In short, his work was “to see that everything ran smoothly so that the boss had no worries”. Even after Boetti’s death, Salman Ali maintained his close relationships with the Boetti family. Today he works at the Fondazione Alighiero e Boetti in Milan.