French Critics Debate Criteria and Independence in Contemporary Art

In January 2011, artpress published a roundtable discussion featuring French art critics and curators, including Catherine Millet, Nicolas Bourriaud, Stéphanie Rivoire, Thomas Boutoux, Harry Bellet, and Raphaël Lavaure. The dialogue focuses on the standards for assessing contemporary art and the necessity of independence. Millet raises concerns about coherent criteria in the face of artistic diversity. Bourriaud highlights his approach rooted in artists' studios. Rivoire stresses the significance of collaboration among artists to prevent hierarchy. Boutoux, a co-founder of castillo/corrales and Paraguay Press, challenges institutional conventions. Bellet likens art criticism to scientific inquiry, advocating for adaptable criteria. Millet applies standards like innovation to artists such as Carl Andre and David Salle, while Lavaure emphasizes openness in his writing about Oscar Tuazon and Vladimir Velickovic. The conversation concludes that individual resistance manifests through personal choices and style.