Italy's Stalled Time: A Call for Duchampian Disruption
Dario Nepoti, founder of Scuola Politica Gibel in Palermo and co-founder of Threes Production in Milan, argues that Italy is trapped in an 'eternal present' since the fall of the Berlin Wall on October 9, 1989. He contends that the globalized era, accelerated by the civilian application of military technologies like the internet, GPS, and drones, has outpaced politics, which has retreated into 'conservative quiescence.' Nepoti calls for a 'Duchampian move'—a radical act of creative disruption akin to Marcel Duchamp's readymade—to break the status quo and reimagine democracy, education, and production. He cites architect Tadao Ando's youthful resolve to 'break the status quo' as inspiration. The article was published in Artribune Magazine #45.
Key facts
- Italy is stuck in an 'eternal present' since the fall of the Berlin Wall on October 9, 1989.
- The globalized era accelerated by military technologies (internet, GPS, drones) has outpaced politics.
- Politics has adopted a strategy of 'conservative quiescence'—existing without being present.
- New walls, economic barriers, and inequality have risen; violence has become normalized.
- Nepoti calls for a 'Duchampian move' to disrupt the status quo, referencing Marcel Duchamp's readymade.
- Tadao Ando's youthful statement 'I will use my profession to break the status quo' is cited as inspiration.
- Art and architecture can provide new imaginaries to address societal fractures.
- The article appears in Artribune Magazine #45.
- Dario Nepoti founded Scuola Politica Gibel in Palermo and co-founded Threes Production in Milan.
- Threes Production produces the Terraforma music festival and co-produces artists like Joe Victor.
Entities
Artists
- Dario Nepoti
- Marcel Duchamp
- Tadao Ando
- Joe Victor
Institutions
- Scuola Politica Gibel
- Threes Production
- Artribune Magazine
Locations
- Italy
- Palermo
- Milan
- Berlin