Art Criticism's Relevance in the Contemporary Art System Debated

Pericle Guaglianone argues that art criticism remains crucial for the art system, countering claims of its irrelevance. He disputes the notion that criticism is only useful when it 'co-participates' in the artistic process, asserting that evaluative and judgmental writing also has impact, albeit not immediately measurable. Guaglianone recounts an anecdote where a collector told magazine editors, 'You are value multipliers!', suggesting reviews influence market perceptions. He cites critic Alfonso Belardinelli's recent intervention in 'Il Foglio' (January 4, 2024), who lamented that contemporary art criticism has become non-judgmental and apologetic. Guaglianone calls for a 'separation of powers' in culture, advocating for autonomous critical viewpoints. He observes a paradigm shift away from purely descriptive or hermeneutic writing, noting that the web's pervasive coverage makes such approaches redundant. Sociologist Nathalie Heinich's concept of 'hermeneutic insistence' in her essay 'The Paradigm of Contemporary Art' is referenced. Guaglianone concludes that criticism is poised to become more incisive, not less, and that the review format is being rehabilitated after years of marginalization.