artpress 40th Anniversary Debate: Three Generations of Critics

On October 6, 2012, at the CAPC in Bordeaux, artpress held a debate for its 40th anniversary, gathering three generations of critics. The discussion, moderated by Didier Arnaudet, explored the evolution of art criticism, subversion in art, and the magazine's role. Participants included Jacques Henric, Richard Leydier, Christophe Kihm, Catherine Millet, Anaël Pigeat, and Jean-Yves Jouannais. Henric dismissed contemporary subversion as bluff, citing institutions and spectacle. Leydier noted subversion's shift to societal issues, citing Rodrigo García's Golgota Picnic and Mounir Fatmi's Quran verses. Kihm called it regression, while Millet argued sexual subversion remains potent, referencing the CAPC's 'Présumés Innocents' scandal. The debate also covered artpress's writing school legacy, with Pigeat emphasizing description as interpretation. Millet defined criticism as a meeting of two subjectivities, while Leydier described a mental state of availability. Jouannais recalled the failed 'Contre' rubric, replaced by 'Opinion'. Arnaudet linked artpress to CAPC's founder Jean-Louis Froment. The event was organized by Permanence de la littérature, led by Marie-Laure Picot.