Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev on Fabio Mauri's Legacy and Misinterpretations
On April 1, 2026, marking the 100th anniversary of Fabio Mauri's birth, Artribune featured an interview with Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, who serves as the president of the scientific committee for Studio Fabio Mauri and is the curator of the artist's catalogue raisonné. This catalogue, published by Allemandi and Hatje Cantz, will be unveiled at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Christov-Bakargiev reflected on her connection with Mauri, whom she first encountered in the mid-1980s, and addressed the common misinterpretations of his work. Although Mauri, who participated in dOCUMENTA (13) in 2008, passed away on May 19, 2009, she emphasized that what was once seen as a flaw in his art is now recognized as a strength. The catalogue, backed by MAMbo Bologna and the Italian Ministry of Culture, seeks to rectify these misconceptions.
Key facts
- Interview published on April 1, 2026, the centenary of Fabio Mauri's birth.
- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev is president of the scientific committee of Studio Fabio Mauri and curator of the catalogue raisonné.
- Catalogue raisonné presented by Allemandi and Hatje Cantz during the 2026 Venice Biennale.
- Christov-Bakargiev first met Mauri in the mid-1980s on Giancarlo Politi's recommendation.
- Mauri was the first artist invited to dOCUMENTA (13) in 2008; he died on May 19, 2009.
- Her interpretation of the 'Schermo' as a metaphor for Mauri's work links ideology and mass media.
- Mauri's heterogeneity was once criticized but is now seen as a virtue in the digital age.
- Common misinterpretations: labeling him Pop artist; viewing late drawings as expressionist.
- Catalogue raisonné available online for a year; supported by MAMbo Bologna and Italian Ministry of Culture.
- Christov-Bakargiev advocates open access for AI to feed on good data.
Entities
Artists
- Fabio Mauri
- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
- Giancarlo Politi
- Alberto Burri
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Mario Schifano
- Lucio Fontana
- Jackson Pollock
- Franz Kline
- Andy Warhol
- Joseph Beuys
- Anton Zeilinger
- Ivan Barlafante
- Achille Mauri
- Santiago Mauri
- Sebastiano Mauri
- Francesca Alfano Miglietti
- Caroline Bourgeois
- Laura Cherubini
- Andrea Viliani
- Sara Codutti
- Alberto Villa
Institutions
- Artribune
- Studio Fabio Mauri
- Allemandi
- Hatje Cantz
- Venice Biennale
- GNAM (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna)
- Castello di Rivoli Museo d'Arte Contemporanea
- GAM di Torino
- Fondazione Cerruti
- dOCUMENTA (13)
- Biennale di Sydney
- Biennale di Istanbul
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts FHNW Basel
- ArtReview
- MAMbo Bologna
- Ministero della Cultura (Italian Council)
- Associazione per l'Arte L'Esperimento del Mondo
- MADRE Napoli
- Hauser & Wirth
Locations
- Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA
- Rome, Italy
- Kassel, Germany
- Venice, Italy
- Sydney, Australia
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Basel, Switzerland
- Bologna, Italy
- Naples, Italy
- Milan, Italy
- L'Aquila, Italy