Collectors, Amateurs, and the Rise of Provocation as Aesthetic Value

In a thought-provoking piece on ArtsLife, the writer delves into the fascination with valuable items, categorizing collectors into two groups: the "collezionista," who pursues ownership influenced by market dynamics, and the "amatore," who appreciates the narrative behind each piece. Many collectors eventually grow weary of their expensive possessions, leading them to auctions, which the author likens to "corridors of lost steps." The article highlights a shift towards provocation as a new form of aesthetic value, a trend initiated by Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" (1917) and revived in the 1960s with Piero Manzoni's "Artist's Shit" and Gino De Dominicis's exhibition at the 1972 Venice Biennale. The author expresses concern over the diminishing artistic vision and ponders the future of collectors, citing Carlo Cipolla's essay on stupidity.