Salvatore Iaconesi (1973–2022): Last Interview on Art, Economy, and the Future
In a recent publication by Artribune, the last interview with Salvatore Iaconesi (1973–2022), an artist and robotic engineer, is featured. Conducted in 2021 for 'Come vivono gli artisti?' (Castelvecchi, 2022), Iaconesi, who worked alongside Oriana Persico since 2006, critiques the cynicism of the art market and the emergence of NFTs. He proposes an art ecosystem that merges health, technology, and real estate to tackle climate change and pandemics. Iaconesi differentiates between nurturing curators and 'meta-artists.' He envisions 'Nuovo Abitare' for life after the pandemic and references their AI creation, Angel_F. During the pandemic, he experienced a relapse of brain cancer, prompting the Data Meditation ritual at MAXXI. He prioritizes 'sentire' (feeling) over solutions and acknowledges limits against transhumanist ideals.
Key facts
- Salvatore Iaconesi died at age 49 in 2022.
- The interview was conducted in 2021 for the book 'Come vivono gli artisti?' (Castelvecchi, 2022).
- Iaconesi worked with Oriana Persico since 2006.
- They lead a research center funding their art through EU projects, corporations, and institutions.
- Iaconesi criticized NFTs for leading to the financialization of life.
- He advocated for an expanded art ecosystem addressing planetary problems.
- During the pandemic, Iaconesi had a brain cancer relapse.
- They created an AI called Angel_F in 2007.
- The Data Meditation ritual was performed at MAXXI in Rome.
- Iaconesi emphasized art as proto-political sensibility, not problem-solving.
Entities
Artists
- Salvatore Iaconesi
- Oriana Persico
- Santa Nastro
- Christian Caliandro
- Donna Haraway
- Elizabeth Grosz
Institutions
- MAXXI
- HER: She Loves Data
- Artribune
- Castelvecchi
- Farnesina Collection
- Lit edizioni
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Bologna
- Naples