Renato Barilli Urges Eugenio Viola to Restore Italian Pavilion's Prominence at Venice Biennale

In an open letter published on Artribune, Renato Barilli, professor emeritus at the University of Bologna, appeals to Eugenio Viola, curator of the Italian Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale, to reclaim a more central location for the pavilion. Barilli recalls that in 1972, when he co-curated the Italian participation with Francesco Arcangeli, the pavilion occupied a dominant suite of rooms in the Central Pavilion's right wing. He criticizes the current placement at the far end of the Corderie, describing it as the most inconvenient spot, often poorly lit, and argues that Italy, as host country, should not be overly modest. He notes that the pavilion's curator was proposed by the duo Gioni-Alemani, who oversee the entire Biennale. Barilli urges Viola to make every effort to return to the former prestigious location, and warns that he will send a similar open letter to Cecilia Alemani. The letter reflects Barilli's broader concern about Italy's diminishing presence in its own Biennale, citing that recent directors have invited only two Italian participants.