Roundtable Debates Cattelan's Guggenheim Retrospective and Retirement Announcement

Maurizio Cattelan's retrospective 'ALL' at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York ran from November 4, 2011, to January 22, 2012. The exhibition featured his entire oeuvre suspended from the museum's rotunda, creating a single aggregated installation. Cattelan announced his retirement following the show, sparking debate among critics. Participants in an artcritical roundtable questioned whether his retirement was genuine, comparing it to pop music farewell tours or strategic career moves. Discussions highlighted Cattelan's critique of art world celebrity, his use of shock and humor, and the site-specific nature of many works. Critics noted the installation deliberately prevented individual contemplation of pieces, treating the retrospective as a total work. Comparisons were drawn to artists like Marcel Duchamp, Damien Hirst, and Urs Fischer. Some panelists defended Cattelan's practice against charges of being merely one-liners, citing political and cultural commentary. The roundtable involved David Cohen, David Carrier, Carla Gannis, Maddie Phinney, Robin Siegel, and Bessie Zhu, moderated by Cohen via email on November 19-20, 2011.