ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Five New Books on Art, Sociology, and Literary Criticism

publication · 2026-04-26

Artribune presents five new book releases spanning decolonialism, futurist literature, mental health, and mysticism in contemporary art. Christophe Boltanski's 'King Kasai' (add editore, 2024) explores the colonial legacy of Belgium's Africa Museum (formerly Royal Museum for Central Africa), contrasting racist stereotypes in its basements with curated African artifacts upstairs. Mario Colucci and Pierangelo Di Vittorio's 'Franco Basaglia. Pensiero, pratiche, politica' (Meltemi Editore, 2024) examines Basaglia's philosophical and political journey from Gorizia's therapeutic community to Trieste's psychiatric reform, culminating in Italy's Law 180. Tomaso Montanari's 'La terza ora d’arte' (Einaudi, 2024) argues for art as liberation and dialogue across time. Vincenzo Pernice's 'I romanzi del futurismo. L’avanguardia per tutti' (Mimesis Edizioni, 2024) categorizes futurist novels by formal complexity, revealing a diverse literary movement beyond parole in libertà. Veronica Caciolli's 'Arte Mistica Comunità 2' (postmedia books, 2024) collects conference proceedings from MUSEC on the resurgence of spiritual, occult, and sacred themes in contemporary visual culture, driven by socio-political motivations.

Key facts

  • Christophe Boltanski's 'King Kasai' examines Belgium's Africa Museum and colonial legacy.
  • Mario Colucci and Pierangelo Di Vittorio's book on Franco Basaglia covers his psychiatric reforms and Law 180.
  • Tomaso Montanari's 'La terza ora d’arte' promotes art as a tool for liberation.
  • Vincenzo Pernice's 'I romanzi del futurismo' categorizes futurist novels by complexity.
  • Veronica Caciolli's 'Arte Mistica Comunità 2' explores mysticism in contemporary art.
  • All books were published in 2024.
  • The Africa Museum was formerly known as the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
  • Basaglia's work led to the closure of mental asylums in Italy.

Entities

Artists

  • Christophe Boltanski
  • Franco Basaglia
  • Tomaso Montanari
  • Vincenzo Pernice
  • Veronica Caciolli
  • Mario Colucci
  • Pierangelo Di Vittorio
  • Leopoldo II of Belgium
  • Michel Foucault
  • Erving Goffman
  • Frantz Fanon

Institutions

  • Africa Museum
  • Royal Museum for Central Africa
  • MUSEC
  • add editore
  • Meltemi Editore
  • Einaudi
  • Mimesis Edizioni
  • postmedia books
  • Artribune
  • Psichiatria Democratica

Locations

  • Belgium
  • Gorizia
  • Trieste
  • Italy
  • Milan

Sources