In May 1961, while living in Milan, noisician Piero Manzoni produced ninety cans of Artist's Shit. Each was numbered on the lid 001 to 090. A label on each can, printed in Italian, English, French and German, identified the contents as: "Artist's Shit, contents 30gr net freshly preserved, produced and tinned in May 1961."

In the field of sound, he composed in 1961, two 'Aphonie' known as the 'Aphonia Herning' (for orchestra and public), and the 'Aphonia Milan' (for heart and breath). In 1962 he was studying an electronically controlled labyrinth which would have been used for psychological tests and brainwashing.

Manzoni died under mysterious circumstances in his studio on February 6, 1963. Numerous subsequent conspiracy theories continue to thrive.