Neovernacular Art and the Collapse of the Gallery System
The article examines the crisis of the contemporary art system through the lens of neovernacular art, which seeks to reconnect with everyday life rather than the art market. Gallerists Maria Chiara Valacchi and Raffaella De Chirico describe art fairs as supermarkets where work is bought for the artist's name, not vision, and galleries are forced into paid participation to prove their existence. De Chirico notes record-low auction prices for genius artists, humiliation by fair directors, and unpaid internships, declaring the system totally collapsed. The author, Christian Caliandro, argues that neovernacular art offers a healthy relationship with context, moving away from the system toward life. He criticizes social practice art for turning sociality into a commodity and creating an illusion of transformation, citing Manuel Arturo Abreu. True transformation requires art to immerse itself in reality without seeking validation from the art world.
Key facts
- Art fairs are described as supermarkets where work is bought for the artist's name, not vision.
- Gallerists are forced into paid participation to show their existence to the art world.
- Raffaella De Chirico reports record-low auction prices for genius artists.
- De Chirico says galleries are humiliated by fair directors and forced to pay thousands of euros.
- Unpaid internships are common, with promises of experience and visibility.
- The gallery system is described as totally collapsed.
- Neovernacular art focuses on everyday life rather than the art system.
- Social practice art is criticized for turning sociality into a commodity and creating an illusion of transformation.
- Manuel Arturo Abreu argues that socially engaged art wants sociality valued on capitalist terms.
- True transformation requires art to immerse itself in reality without seeking validation.
Entities
Artists
- Fulvio Di Piazza
- Christian Caliandro
Institutions
- Artribune
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze
- Symbola Fondazione per le Qualità italiane
Locations
- Italy