Lucrezia Longobardi's '15 ipotesi' Examines Italian Art's Critical Landscape

Lucrezia Longobardi's new book '15 ipotesi per una storia dell'arte contemporanea' (Castelvecchi, 2023) offers a critical analysis of Italian contemporary art through fifteen case studies. The volume, part of the Fuoriuscita series edited by Christian Caliandro, argues that 21st-century Italian artists have seen their influence and authority diminish, often relegated to a 'spare wheel' in the art system. Longobardi focuses on a 'neorealismo di strada' (street neorealism) and examines the relationship between artworks and critical discourse. She gives voice to curators, highlighting a subordination of critical commentary to curatorial practice. The book notes that curatorial prose has become a literary genre that reforms the bond between work and word, often limiting itself to description rather than genuine critique. Among the contributors, Stefano Chiodi stands out for interrogating works by Rossella Biscotti and Francesco Arena. However, the book omits discussion of artists like Gian Maria Tosatti and Arcangelo Sassolino, whose works engage with the sublime in the age of technology. Longobardi's study accepts curatorial guarantees to reactivate dialogue with criticism, focusing on pure descriptive practice rather than re-experiencing art through language.