Mo(n)stre: The Social Profile That Plays with Art History

Fabrizio Federici, an art historian and researcher at the University of Florence, runs Mo(n)stre, a social media project that blends art history with pop culture through memes and witty commentary. Launched on Facebook in 2012 and expanded to Instagram in 2017, the profile originated from Federici's work as a research fellow at the Scuola Normale di Pisa, where he coordinated the 'Osservatorio mostre e musei' project. Federici, who holds a PhD in art history from the Scuola Normale, focuses on 17th-century Tuscan-Roman artists, collectors, and patrons. Mo(n)stre targets an audience of enthusiasts, students, and scholars, mixing serious posts with humorous takes on current events. The profile has gained institutional recognition: in summer 2022, the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria commissioned posts under the hashtag #lartedellirriverenza for its reopening, alongside pages like Dio, Lercio, and OSHO. Federici also appeared as a guest on the comedy podcast Gioconde with Michela Giraud and art historian Maria Onori. He emphasizes variety over fixed rubrics, using Instagram's versatility for videos, photomontages, and stories, though he notes social media censorship issues affecting even major museums. The interview was conducted by Annalisa Trasatti for Artribune.