Six New Art Books: From Basilico to the Venice Biennale

Marco Enrico Giacomelli reviews six recent art publications. The Venice Biennale 2022 catalogue, edited by Cecilia Alemani, includes two volumes with commissioned essays by Igiaba Scego and Chiara Valerio, enriched by an extra year of preparation due to the pandemic. The Uzbekistan Pavilion's book "Dixit Algorizmi" explores myth, technology, and contemporary art through the legacy of mathematician al-Khwarizmi. Gabriele Basilico's "Milano. Ritratti di fabbriche" is reissued for its fortieth anniversary, featuring essays by Fulvio Irace, Roberta Valtorta, and Stefano Boeri. Davide Vargas's "Napoli scontrosa" collects his texts and watercolors from Repubblica Napoli, published by La nave di Teseo. Flavio Favelli's "I maestri. Serie oro" accompanies his exhibition at GAM Torino, applying gold Ferrero Rocher wrappers to covers of the "I Maestri del Colore" series. David Haziza's "Le procès de la chair" critiques American puritanism and its influence on Europe, though the reviewer finds its argumentation lacking.