Veronica Bisesti on quarantine and the future of art

In an interview during the COVID-19 lockdown, Naples-based artist Veronica Bisesti (born 1991) reflects on the pandemic's impact on the art world. She argues that the crisis exposes pre-existing systemic fragilities: high turnovers, compulsive exhibitions, and exploitation of underpaid cultural workers. Bisesti is working on an installation inspired by Pietro Germi's film 'Sedotta e abbandonata' (1964), reworking its script and exploring the relationship between history and power. She sees the lockdown as an opportunity to pause, rethink individualism, and re-evaluate responsibility. Regarding Naples, she cites Bianco-Valente's work 'Il mare non bagna Napoli' at Museo Madre as emblematic of the city's resilience and openness to experimentation, but criticizes Italy's lack of a proper system to support artists. The interview is part of a series by Giuseppe Amedeo Arnesano on young artists in quarantine.