Angela Ricci Lucchi (1942–2018): A Tribute by Renato Barilli

Renato Barilli, professor emeritus at the University of Bologna, writes a personal obituary for Angela Ricci Lucchi, who died in early 2018. She was the lifelong partner of Yervant Gianikian, and together they formed the renowned artist duo Gianikian & Ricci Lucchi. Barilli recounts meeting them after their success at Documenta and planning a performance event in Bologna for February 2, 2018, which was part of a series commemorating performances from the 1970s. However, Gianikian had to attend via Skype due to Ricci Lucchi's hospitalization. Barilli recalls Ricci Lucchi's early work in the 1970s, influenced by Pop art and the myth of the rose, and how the duo later embraced performance and film, using found footage to expose colonial violence and hypocrisy. Their work was shown at MoMA, Centre Pompidou, HangarBicocca, the Venice Biennale, and Documenta. Barilli hopes Gianikian will continue their shared projects.