Milan's Art Future: Renato Barilli on Museum Gaps and Expo Opportunity

Renato Barilli argues that Milan's Museo del Novecento is insufficient, stopping at the 1970s despite the city's vibrant contemporary art scene. He criticizes the decision to place the Mudec museum in the former Ansaldo building, calling it an unnecessary museum of cultures that fails to support local artistic vitality. Barilli suggests using an Expo 2015 pavilion or commissioning a star architect like Zaha Hadid to create a dedicated contemporary art museum, similar to Rome's MAXXI. The article highlights Milan's lack of municipal support for contemporary art compared to Rome, which has institutions like MACRO, MAXXI, GNAM, and Palaexpo. Barilli praises initiatives by Hangar Bicocca and Triennale but notes the absence of city government involvement. He urges the newly elected mayor to address this urgent issue.