ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Remo Guidieri on Art and Money in Artpress

publication · 2026-04-24

In a 1987 dossier on art and money published in Artpress, ethnologist Remo Guidieri draws a provocative parallel between the study of distant 'savages' and the discovery of equally fascinating 'savages' closer to home: the Western self. The piece, titled 'Cargaison,' reflects on the cargo cult-like dynamics within the art world, where value and meaning are projected onto objects. Guidieri's essay is part of a broader investigation into the intersection of art and finance, questioning the anthropological underpinnings of contemporary art's commodification.

Key facts

  • Remo Guidieri is an ethnologist.
  • The piece is titled 'Cargaison'.
  • It was published in Artpress in October 1987.
  • The dossier theme is 'l'art et l'argent' (art and money).
  • Guidieri compares distant 'savages' to Western individuals.
  • The essay uses the concept of cargo cults to discuss art.
  • Artpress is a French art magazine.
  • The article is part of a special dossier.

Entities

Artists

  • Remo Guidieri

Institutions

  • Artpress

Sources