Gian Maria Tosatti on the Cracks in the Art World

In an opinion piece for Artribune, artist Gian Maria Tosatti reflects on two events from October 13, 2017: Marina Abramović's decision to abandon her planned performance institute and Pablo Echaurren's critique of the exhibition on the 1968 protests at the Galleria Nazionale in Rome. Tosatti argues that both incidents reveal a rare and valuable 'crack' in the art world's facade. He dismisses the myth of 'dinosaur artists'—wealthy, successful figures who have overcome early struggles—as an invention. According to Tosatti, behind the spotlight, artists face shadow, effort, distance, and misery. He interprets Abramović's failure to open the institute as her best performance in years, a testament to humanity in a time of artificiality. He praises Echaurren's critique, published on Huffington Post, as a genuine critical act reminiscent of mid-20th century journalism, sparking necessary dialogue. Tosatti suggests that such fractures prevent the art world from becoming a mere castle in the air, and that the Galleria Nazionale should welcome the debate.