Renato Barilli Remembers Germano Celant's Dictatorial Genius

In a personal tribute, critic Renato Barilli recounts his long relationship with Germano Celant, the inventor of Arte Povera. Barilli first encountered Celant in the 1960s through art historian Eugenio Battisti, describing him as a mute figure dressed in black. Barilli was among the first to recognize Celant's importance, inviting him to a 1967 AICA conference in Amalfi organized with Marcello Rumma. He later recommended Rumma commission Celant for a show following Barilli's own Pop Art exhibition in Amalfi. Barilli also proposed Celant to the De' Foscherari gallery in Bologna. However, Celant's dictatorial style led Barilli to exclude him from a 1970 Arte Povera exhibition at Bologna's Museo Civico, instead inviting Tommaso Trini. At the 1972 Venice Biennale, Francesco Arcangeli wanted both Barilli and Celant, but Celant refused, insisting on Kounellis and Paolini over Barilli's choice of Merz and Fabro. Barilli praises Celant's unwavering defense of "in-espressionismo" even as others returned to painting. He notes Arte Povera's resurgence and compares Celant's career to Manzoni's, questioning if his glory was true but affirming that his artists have stood the test of time.