Umberto Di Marino on Italian Galleries' Covid-19 Response

In a conversation with Artribune, gallerist Umberto Di Marino reflects on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected contemporary art galleries in Italy, expressing concern over their perception as solely commercial entities. He points out the difficulties posed by the disruption of both traditional and online sales methods. To address these challenges, Di Marino has reinstated the 'Visto da qui' initiative, aimed at examining the current landscape of galleries and artistic endeavors in Italy, and is also releasing archival materials from previous exhibitions. Although he took part in the ArteBa Special Edition following the cancellation of the Buenos Aires fair, he finds digital events to be somewhat lacking. He advocates for a unified effort to gain institutional acknowledgment of galleries as cultural contributors, commending Naples' cultural institutions while highlighting the need for public sector collaboration based on individual goodwill.