Santa Nastro: The Milk of Dreams and the Backlash Against Cecilia Alemani's Biennale

In an opinion article for Artribune, critic Santa Nastro contends that Cecilia Alemani's 2022 Venice Biennale, titled 'The Milk of Dreams,' has encountered criticism, especially from male voices, due to its focus on marginalized viewpoints and its challenge to patriarchal narratives. Detractors argue that Alemani's methods are excessively politically correct and reflect U.S. influences, particularly following Simone Leigh's Golden Lion win. Nastro commends the exhibition's alternative art history, emphasizing five key themes and Formafantasma's design. With over 200 artists, many from the 1970s and 1980s, the Biennale is seen as favoring historical reinterpretation over contemporary art. In contrast to the 1964 American Biennale's support for new artists, concurrent exhibitions highlight established figures. Nastro also points out P. Staff's installation as a vision of the future.