Antonello Tolve Criticizes 2022 Venice Biennale as Repetitive and Politically Correct
In an editorial for Artribune, critic Antonello Tolve expresses his disappointment with the 59th Venice Biennale, overseen by Cecilia Alemani, labeling it as 'boring' and 'repetitive' while lacking a true critical edge. He argues that the Biennale's awards are given out of guilt rather than artistic excellence, particularly criticizing the Golden Lion for Best National Participation awarded to Sonia Boyce (United Kingdom) and the Golden Lion for Best Participant given to Simone Leigh (United States). Tolve points out neglected works by Loukia Alavanou (Greece Pavilion) and Vladimir Nikolić (Serbia Pavilion) and commends various national pavilions. He denounces the omission of Gian Maria Tosatti's Italian Pavilion, calling it a 'true intellectual crime,' and describes Tosatti's installation as impactful, concluding that the Biennale failed to promote Italian art.
Key facts
- Antonello Tolve criticizes the 59th Venice Biennale curated by Cecilia Alemani.
- Tolve calls the Biennale 'boring' and 'repetitive', lacking critical spirit.
- Golden Lion for Best National Participation awarded to Sonia Boyce (United Kingdom).
- Golden Lion for Best Participant in International Exhibition awarded to Simone Leigh (United States).
- Tolve compares Simone Leigh's work to Kara Walker's sugar sphinx.
- Strong projects by Loukia Alavanou (Greece) and Vladimir Nikolić (Serbia) were overlooked.
- Tolve praises pavilions of Poland, Austria, Latvia, Denmark, Turkey, and South Korea.
- Gian Maria Tosatti's Italian Pavilion, curated by Eugenio Viola, received no mention or award.
- Tosatti's installation 'Storia della Notte e Destino delle Comete' features twenty sewing machines.
- Tolve calls the exclusion of Tosatti a 'true intellectual crime' and missed opportunity for Italian art.
Entities
Artists
- Cecilia Alemani
- Antonello Tolve
- Sonia Boyce
- Simone Leigh
- Kara Walker
- Loukia Alavanou
- Vladimir Nikolić
- Małgorzata Mirga-Tas
- Jakob Lena Knebl
- Ashley Hans Scheirl
- Skuja Braden
- Melissa D. Braden
- Uffe Isolotto
- Füsun Onur
- Yunchul Kim
- Gian Maria Tosatti
- Eugenio Viola
- Gina Pane
- Regina Cassolo Bracchi
- Candice Lin
- Delcy Morelos
- Paula Rego
- Ovartaci
Institutions
- Artribune
- Venice Biennale
- Accademia Albertina di Torino
- Università di Salerno
- Mimar Sinan
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Greece
- Serbia
- Poland
- Austria
- Latvia
- Denmark
- Turkey
- South Korea
- Melfi
- Turin
- Salerno