Gianmaria Ajani on Legal Challenges in Contemporary Art

In a 2016 interview, Gianmaria Ajani discusses the evolution of legal frameworks for contemporary art since co-authoring the 2010 Manifesto for the Rights of Contemporary Art with Gianni Bolongaro, Anna Detheridge, Alessandra Donati, and Milanese artists. The manifesto challenged classical legal categories, highlighting issues like dematerialization and documentation. Ajani notes progress in theoretical understanding—copyright is no longer the sole focus—but lags in policy implementation. He contrasts European and US legal models: the US protects the work over the artist, while continental Europe (France, Italy) protects the artist indirectly. Hybridization across art forms (e.g., video art, dance-sculpture) demands legal updates. Judicial rulings show normative inadequacy, but legislation remains outdated. Interdisciplinarity is essential but hindered by Italy's sectoral approach. At the University of Turin, Ajani fostered art on campus (permanent installations at Campus Luigi Einaudi, temporary ones at the Rectorate) and collaborated with Fondazione Pistoletto. A new International Summer School at the Centro Conservazione e Restauro della Reggia di Venaria (September 2016) targets curators, lawyers, artists, and restorers, aiming to bridge disciplinary divides and address market demand for contemporary art restorers. The school, held in English for international visibility, is a micro-didactic experiment to implement prior theoretical and political work.