Two Italian Curators Debate Globalization vs. Local Identity in Art

In a feature for Artribune's Versus column, curators Domenico de Chirico and Lorenzo Madaro discuss the tension between global and local in contemporary art. De Chirico, artistic director of DAMA, argues for an open, cosmopolitan context where travel and diverse influences enrich artistic practice. He cites artists Darren Bader and Guan Xiao as examples of a synthesis between global and local. Madaro, who focuses on marginalized Italian artists, emphasizes the importance of context, including domestic environments, and warns against market-driven homogenization. He references Ezechiele Leandro's Santuario della Pazienza in Salento as a work inseparable from its local roots. Both agree that the art world must improve communication and education to bridge the gap between specialized and general audiences, especially in Italy where school hours for art history have been cut. The interview covers the emergence of an international style, the role of the market, and strategies for engaging peripheral communities.