Matteo Salvini as Political Body Artist: A Media Analysis

Lorenzo Taiuti analyzes Matteo Salvini's pervasive media presence, comparing his self-representation to performance art. Salvini's constant appearance on TV, newspapers, and social media—especially Instagram, Facebook, and Google—is described as a will to communicate and exert power. Taiuti draws parallels with Jim Morrison's sacrificial stage persona, David Bowie's and Elvis Presley's seductive imagery, and even Marilyn Monroe's iconic photos. He likens Salvini's direct gaze to Marina Abramović's 'The Artist Is Present,' suggesting the politician becomes an object like an artist. The article references Susan Sontag on photography and truth, and notes that Salvini's nude or semi-nude summer photos flood social media, echoing 1960s-70s narcissistic photography. Taiuti argues that in the net-photographic medium, the description of a person becomes their truth, especially when naked. The piece was published in Artribune Magazine #46.