Giulio Alvigini's Manual for Young Artists and the Role of the Jester in Contemporary Art

In this article, Pino Boresta reflects on the role of humor in contemporary art, prompted by Giulio Alvigini's book "Manuale per giovani artisti (italiani semplici)". Boresta argues that success in art increasingly depends on making people laugh, comparing artists to jesters. He notes that more women than men now work as critics and curators, which he attributes to women's superior intelligence rather than demographic trends. Alvigini's book positions the artist as a court jester who can speak truth to power through irony. Alvigini aims to become a jester but acknowledges that Maurizio Cattelan already occupies that role. He uses memes as linguistic devices for viral communication, though he does not consider them art. Alvigini criticizes the Italian art system as self-referential and controlled by a powerful elite that decides who succeeds. He offers practical advice for navigating the art world: dress in black, be confident in the first 15 seconds, never say "interesting", and avoid people who scan the room for more important contacts. Boresta compares Alvigini's approach to his own past writings, admitting Alvigini is more pungent and ironic. The article concludes with a Facebook exchange where Alvigini confesses he simulates being an artist but questions whether he truly is one, placing this ambiguity at the center of his work. Boresta also mentions other overlooked Italian artists like Franco Vaccari, Ettore Innocente, and Achille Pace.