Opinion & reviews

Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.

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Criticism of Italy's oversized Biennale pavilion and Tosatti's failed intervention opinion-review
Pericle Guaglianone criticizes Gian Maria Tosatti's installation for the Italian Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale, arguing that Tosatti's shift from horror-inflected church…
Personal Reflection on Seasonal Transitions and Artistic Experience at Botanical Garden opinion-review
In late October, an individual traveled to a botanical garden seeking inspiration from art and nature. During the visit, they observed Rodin's sculpture 'Eve,' interpreting the…
Sincerity vs. Performance in Contemporary Art opinion-review
Christian Caliandro reflects on a trend in contemporary culture where artists and writers prioritize persona over work, drawing on Gianluigi Simonetti's critique of the 2022…
documenta 15: Activism Over Art? A Critical Review opinion-review
Daniele Capra's review of documenta 15, curated by the Indonesian collective ruangrupa, criticizes the exhibition for prioritizing participatory processes over artistic quality.…
Air Jordan 1 as Contemporary Art: A Cultural Icon opinion-review
The article explores the idea that sneakers, particularly the Air Jordan 1, can be considered works of art. It reflects on the visual influences of artists born in the 1980s,…
Italian readers propose cultural priorities for new government opinion-review
Over 600 readers of Artribune responded to a survey on cultural priorities for Italy's next government, elected on September 25. Key issues include labor protections in the…
Federculture report exposes democratic paradox in Italian cultural policy opinion-review
A new publication titled 'Cultura è Futuro – Proposte di intervento per la prossima legislatura', promoted by Federculture, gathers input from numerous cultural sector…
La semplificazione come nuova condanna dell'arte contemporanea opinion-review
Christian Caliandro reflects on the complex relationship between art and how we talk about it. He mentions Pepe Karmel's book, *L'arte astratta. Una storia globale* (Einaudi…
Laura Cherubini Critiques the 2022 Venice Biennale as an Overly Large Mega-Show opinion-review
In her review of the 59th Venice Biennale, Laura Cherubini highlights Gian Maria Tosatti's Italian Pavilion alongside Cecilia Alemani's main exhibition. Curated by Eugenio Viola,…
La vergogna perduta: riflessione sulla società contemporanea opinion-review
Fabio Severino, economista e sociologo, pubblica su Artribune Magazine #67 un articolo in cui analizza la scomparsa del senso di vergogna nella società contemporanea. Secondo…
Fashion sustainability: an oxymoron? opinion-review
The fashion sector significantly impacts the environment, accounting for 10% of worldwide carbon emissions, and was identified as the third-largest polluter by the World Economic…
Science, Art, and Religion: From the Occult to Modernity opinion-review
Gabriella De Marco explores the historical interplay between science, art, and religion from the late 19th to early 20th century, drawing parallels to contemporary debates. She…
Christian Caliandro: The Vanishing of Dissent in Contemporary Art opinion-review
In a critical essay on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro argues that contemporary art has lost its capacity for genuine dissent. He observes that wealthy elites have,…
AFAM: Italian Higher Arts Education System Overview opinion-review
Antonio Bisaccia, President of the National Council for Higher Artistic and Musical Education (CNAM), argues for the relevance of enrolling in Italian AFAM institutions (Accademie…
Artist Emanuela Barilozzi Caruso sends manifesto-letter instead of artworks to protest unpaid labor opinion-review
Artist Emanuela Barilozzi Caruso, invited to the collective exhibition SUMA in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (ME) on August 19-20, 2022, by Collettivo Flock, refused to send her…
Museums Without Exhibitions: A Contemporary Paradox opinion-review
The article argues that exhibitions are essential to museums, transforming collections into new knowledge through critical analysis and curation. While some critics warn that an…
Clickbaiting in Archaeology: Who Profits and Who Loses opinion-review
The article examines the impact of clickbait journalism on archaeological reporting, arguing that sensationalist headlines distort public understanding and harm cultural…
Museum Merchandising: Value, Technology, and Market Potential opinion-review
Museum merchandising is a cultural paradox: objects of questionable taste sold in temples of aesthetic refinement. Stefano Monti of Monti&Taft analyzes this phenomenon, arguing…
Maria Kulikovska's 254 Performance at Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin Re-enacts Protest Under Ukrainian Flag opinion-review
From April 27 to May 4, 2022, Ukrainian artist Maria Kulikovska showcased her performance piece titled 254 at the Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin. During one-hour sessions at noon, 3…
CNAM renewal sparks debate on merging Italian art academies with universities opinion-review
Renato Barilli criticizes the renewal of Italy's Consiglio Nazionale per l'alta formazione Artistica e Musicale (CNAM) by the Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, arguing…
Italian cultural figures debate how art should respond to war in Ukraine opinion-review
In an article published on Artribune Magazine #65/66, nine Italian cultural figures—including writer Gianluigi Ricuperati, curator Mariacristina Ferraioli, Hotpotatoes founder…
Bulgarian Pavilion at 59th Venice Biennale Explores Images as Silent Language opinion-review
The Bulgarian Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale presents an exhibition titled "There You Are," which engages with themes of images and silence. Curated by Nora Goleshevska, the…
Christian Caliandro argues contemporary art has become crude and shoddy opinion-review
In an opinion piece on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro argues that contemporary visual art has become crude and shoddy, mirroring a broader cultural decline. He…
Decolonial Revisions of Brazil's 1922 Modern Art Week Centennial opinion-review
The centenary of Brazil's Modern Art Week, which took place in 1922, is now being examined through a decolonial perspective that addresses the racial and gender biases of…
Italian Right-Wing Cultural Program: Rhetoric and Banality opinion-review
Massimiliano Tonelli of Artribune criticizes the cultural program of Italy's right-wing coalition (Meloni-Salvini-Berlusconi) ahead of the September 25 elections. The program,…
Rebecca Horn's Art as Ecological Critique opinion-review
Rebecca Horn (born 1944 in Michelstadt, Germany) has been exploring the tension between nature and artifice since the 1970s. Her early body extensions—prostheses, busts, cocoons,…
Wesley Stace's 'Late Style' Album Examines Contemporary Crises Through Nostalgic Pop opinion-review
An opinion piece discusses Wesley Stace's 2021 album 'Late Style' as a model for art that addresses contemporary crises while maintaining hope. The author, an English professor,…
Christian Caliandro critiques the 'likeability' pose in contemporary art opinion-review
In an essay on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro argues that contemporary art and culture are dominated by a 'mettersi in posa' (striking a pose) attitude, which he…
Architecture and Racism: The Uncomfortable Link in Italy opinion-review
The brutal killing of street vendor Alika Ogorchukwu in Civitanova Marche, Italy, and the swift dismissal of racial motives by investigators, prompts a deep reflection on the…
Personal Reflection on the Shiva Nataraja Sculpture's Universal Appeal opinion-review
The essay describes a personal encounter with the Shiva Nataraja sculpture, a Hindu depiction of Shiva as Lord of the Dance. The author recounts being deeply moved by a specific…
Public procurement in culture: how to limit damage from low bids? opinion-review
Public sector is a major client for cultural businesses, which participate in tenders evaluated on technical quality and price. Despite efforts to weight quality more, the…
Reflections on Transitioning from Museum Careers to New Professional Paths opinion-review
Paul Bowers, a British professional residing in Australia, shared insights on leaving museum employment after two decades. He departed from his museum role four years ago and has…
Culturemaker: riflessioni su specialismo, sostenibilità e radici culturali opinion-review
L'articolo, pubblicato su Artribune Magazine #65/66, riflette sul concetto di culturemaker, ispirandosi al libro 'Placemaker. Gli inventori dei luoghi che abiteremo' di Elena…
Examining Museum Ties to Resource Extraction from Historical Collections to Contemporary Sponsorship opinion-review
The article explores connections between museums and extractive industries, tracing how 19th-century geological surveys that collected Indigenous artifacts for what became the…
Poetic Response to Milton Avery's 'Tree and Mountain' Painting opinion-review
A poetic interpretation of Milton Avery's artwork 'Tree and Mountain' was published on Curator Magazine. The piece explores themes of landscape, composition, and emotional…
Brazilian Art World Reacts to Biden-Harris Win and Far-Right Rise opinion-review
The article from Arte Brasileiros covers the reaction of the Brazilian art world to the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 US presidential election, while also…
Renato Barilli ricorda Claes Oldenburg e il legame con Dubuffet opinion-review
Il critico Renato Barilli (nato 1935, professore emerito Università di Bologna) ricorda Claes Oldenburg (Stoccolma, 1929 – New York, 2022) come il suo preferito tra i Pop artisti…
Angel Blue cancels Arena di Verona debut over blackface in Zeffirelli's Aida opinion-review
American soprano Angel Blue has canceled her scheduled debut at the Arena di Verona on July 22 and 30, 2022, citing the institution's decision to stage Franco Zeffirelli's…
Editorial: Reativar a atenção opinion-review
Global art events such as the Venice Biennale, Berlin Biennale, and documenta fifteen serve to underscore the economic, social, and political divides around the world, utilizing…
Oswaldo Costa's 1928 Critique Reveals Fractures in São Paulo Modernism Narrative opinion-review
The intellectual Oswaldo Costa, writing in the Revista de Antropofagia in 1928, sharply criticized the visual arts trajectory of São Paulo modernism, challenging its myth of a…

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