Francesco Poli on Turin's Art Scene from the 1960s to the 1980s
In a conversation with Artribune, critic Francesco Poli (b. 1949) reflects on the cultural scene in Turin from the late 1960s through the late 1980s. He characterizes early 1970s Turin as a hazy city with a struggling historic center. Influenced by the political atmosphere, artists such as Piero Gilardi and Mario Merz emerged. Although Mayor Diego Novelli (1975–1985) and culture assessor Giorgio Balmas launched Settembre Musica, its effect on contemporary art was minimal. After Aldo Passoni's passing, GAM, under Luigi Carluccio, presented significant exhibitions. By the mid-1970s, Arte Povera artists were prominent, and in 1979, Poli started Arti visive proposte. The Castello di Rivoli, which opened in 1984 with Fiat's backing, emphasized international contemporary art, boosting cultural tourism.
Key facts
- Francesco Poli (b. 1949) is a critic, curator, and teacher.
- Early 1970s Turin was a smoky city with poor and immigrant residents in the historic center.
- Mayor Diego Novelli (1975–1985) and assessor Giorgio Balmas initiated Settembre Musica.
- GAM lacked a director after Aldo Passoni's death; run by a committee.
- 1970 exhibition 'Conceptual Art, Arte Povera, Land Art' curated by Germano Celant at GAM.
- Christian Stein gallery (opened 1966) was the prime Arte Povera gallery.
- Edoardo Fadini at Unione Culturale brought Jonas Mekas in 1967 and fostered independent cinema.
- Castello di Rivoli opened in 1984 with Rudi Fuchs as director.
- 1989 exhibition 'Standing Sculpture' marked Fiat's engagement with Castello di Rivoli.
- Turin's art fair is the only one publicly funded, as part of cultural tourism strategy.
Entities
Artists
- Francesco Poli
- Piero Gilardi
- Gilberto Zorio
- Mario Merz
- Aldo Passoni
- Riccardo Passoni
- Luigi Carluccio
- Francis Bacon
- Graham Sutherland
- Germano Celant
- Marella Agnelli
- Tucci Russo
- Giorgio Persano
- Christian Stein
- Alighiero Boetti
- Edoardo Fadini
- Jonas Mekas
- Tonino De Bernardi
- Renato Ferraro
- Ugo Nespolo
- Paolo Menzio
- Plinio Martelli
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
- Carlo Quartucci
- Giulio Paolini
- Fausto Melotti
- Bruno Munari
- Luciano Fabro
- Ugo Mulas
- Giuseppe Penone
- Luciano Gallino
- Gianni Piacentino
- Aldo Mondino
- Guido Curto
- Giorgio Perottino
- Beatrice Merz
- Franz Paludetto
- Joseph Beuys
- Nicola De Maria
- Pierluigi Pusole
- Guido Carbone
- Corrado Levi
- Bruno Zanichelli
- Luciano Anselmino
- Giovanni Ferrero
- Rudi Fuchs
- Johannes Gachnang
- Cesare Annibaldi
Institutions
- Artribune
- Galleria d’Arte Moderna (GAM)
- Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna di Roma
- Palma Bucarelli
- Associazione Amici dell’Arte Contemporanea
- Sperone
- Multipli di Giorgio Persano
- Unione Culturale
- Teatro degli Infernotti
- Living Theatre
- Einaudi
- Accademia
- Liceo Artistico
- Weber
- Paludetto
- Biennale di Venezia
- Aperto 90
- Galleria Il Fauno
- Castello di Rivoli
- Van Abbemuseum
- Documenta
- Fiat
- Palazzo Grassi
- Museo Egizio
- Reggia di Venaria
Locations
- Torino
- Turin
- Italy
- Via Po
- Piazza Vittorio
- Palazzo Nuovo
- Roma
- Rome
- New York
- Milano
- Milan
- via San Gottardo
- Rivoli
- Venezia
- Venice