Artpress Debate: Has Contemporary Art's Success Come at a Price?
In a discussion featured in artpress, critics Sinziana Ravini, Thomas Boutoux, Nicolas Bourriaud, Harry Bellet, Catherine Millet, and Richard Leydier reflect on the transformation of contemporary art over the last ten years. Bourriaud observes an increase in artists and exhibitions, resulting in more superficial selections. Ravini expresses concern over nostalgia in events such as Documenta, while Millet proposes utopia as a framework for imagining improved futures, mentioning Ja-gruppen and artists Yona Friedman and Pierre Huyghe. Boutoux notes the growth of biennials and art fairs but points to a trend towards smaller formats. Bellet claims that mega-collectors like François Pinault eclipse critics. Leydier highlights the weakening of criticism, with publications like Elle misapplying the term 'arty.' The critics call for a reimagining of criticism, referencing Ravini's 'Le Château d'étain' and Boutoux's 'L'Entretien.'
Key facts
- Six critics debate the evolution of contemporary art over the past decade in artpress.
- Nicolas Bourriaud notes an exponential proliferation of artists, curators, and exhibitions since the 1990s.
- Sinziana Ravini observes a shift from documentary realism to interest in the unreal and nostalgia for utopias.
- Thomas Boutoux highlights the rise of biennials and fairs as a response to global expansion, but sees a recent turn toward smaller formats.
- Harry Bellet argues that mega-collectors like François Pinault now have more influence than critics.
- Richard Leydier criticizes the dilution of art criticism as contemporary art becomes a lifestyle brand.
- The debate references the Palais de Tokyo's role in making art 'cool' and e-flux's homogenizing effect on art writing.
- Critics call for reinventing criticism through more personal, narrative, and collaborative forms.
Entities
Artists
- Sinziana Ravini
- Thomas Boutoux
- Nicolas Bourriaud
- Harry Bellet
- Catherine Millet
- Richard Leydier
- Yona Friedman
- Pierre Huyghe
- Jeff Koons
- Takashi Murakami
- Damien Hirst
- Olafur Eliasson
- Philippe Parreno
- Jun Nguyen Hatsushiba
- Carsten Nicolai
- Guillaume Leblon
- Adrian Searle
- Jerry Saltz
- Marc Spiegler
- Samuel Keller
- François Pinault
- Charles Saatchi
- Larry Gagosian
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Victor Pinchuk
- Howard Becker
- Raymonde Moulin
- Pierre Restany
- Thomas More
- Marshall McLuhan
- Diderot
- François Piron
- Benjamin Thorel
- Oscar Tuazon
- Jérôme Sans
- Tim Griffin
Institutions
- artpress
- Institut suédois
- castillo/corrales
- Palais de Tokyo
- Tate
- ministère de la Culture et de la Communication
- Le Monde
- ArtReview
- Artforum
- Flash Art
- Beaux-Arts
- New York Magazine
- The Guardian
- Fondation Pinchuk
- Christie's
- ArtBasel Miami
- Biennale d'Istanbul
- Biennale de Berlin
- Documenta
- Future Generation Art Prize
- e-flux
- Paraguay Press
- éd. Montgolfier
- Elle
- Paris-Match
- artpress.com
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Belleville
- Miami
- United States
- Bâle
- Switzerland
- Londres
- United Kingdom
- New York
- Bogota
- Colombia
- Venise
- Italy
- Suède
- Sweden
- Ukraine
- Versailles