Renato Barilli and Ilaria Bignotti on Militancy and Resilience in Art

In a conversation published on Artribune, critic Renato Barilli and curator Ilaria Bignotti discuss militancy, resilience, and the evolving role of art in society. Barilli, a key figure in the Gruppo 63 and a lifelong militant critic, defends his political stance during the 1968 protests, advocating for social democracy and supporting figures like Craxi and Renzi. He contrasts his approach with contemporary curators he accuses of lacking theoretical commitment. Bignotti, born in 1979, reflects on her formation in the late 1990s, when the art of the 1960s and 1970s was highly sought after. She emphasizes rewriting cultural geographies beyond the Western canon, focusing on ephemeral, digital, and relational art. Both discuss the concept of resilience: Bignotti sees it as a necessary response to economic instability and media superficiality, while Barilli notes that neo-avant-gardes already moved away from utopian ambitions. Bignotti cites artists like Francesca Pasquali, Laura Renna, and Verónica Vázquez, and plans upcoming shows at DAS CUBO (Bologna) and Marignana Arte (Venice). Barilli lists top international artists excluding Italians: Jeff Koons, David LaChapelle, David Hockney, Chantal Joffe, Michel Blazy, Wim Delvoye, Anselm Kiefer, Takashi Murakami, Tabaimo, Ernesto Neto, and Doris Salcedo.