Vincenzo Trione on the Crisis of Art Criticism in Italy
Art historian Vincenzo Trione contends that art criticism in Italy has deteriorated into a state of confusion, akin to promotional materials. He links this regression to a disconnection between art history and criticism, a relationship once maintained by figures such as Francesco Arcangeli and Giulio Carlo Argan. Trione emphasizes that while expertise is essential in cinema and literature, anyone can comment on art, illustrating two decades of cultural decline. He points out Achille Bonito Oliva's differentiation between curation and criticism, while noting the rift between art historians and curators. Germano Celant aimed to bridge these disciplines. Trione mentions the 1993 Venice Biennale as the last notable instance of criticism, observing that since then, catalogs have supplanted critical writings with interviews.
Key facts
- Vincenzo Trione is an art historian and critic.
- Trione argues art criticism in Italy is reduced to press releases.
- The link between art history and criticism is broken.
- Francesco Arcangeli, Lionello Venturi, and Giulio Carlo Argan considered the link indissoluble.
- Achille Bonito Oliva distinguished curation as 'maintenance of the present' and criticism as interrogation of roots.
- Germano Celant tried to mend the bond between art history and criticism.
- The 1993 Venice Biennale curated by Achille Bonito Oliva was the last great moment of criticism in Italy.
- Umberto Eco noted art criticism had become a stylistic exercise borrowing from philosophy and anthropology.
- Catalogs now replace critical texts with interviews.
- The article was published on Artribune and curated by Caterina Angelucci.
Entities
Artists
- Vincenzo Trione
- Francesco Arcangeli
- Lionello Venturi
- Giulio Carlo Argan
- Achille Bonito Oliva
- Germano Celant
- Umberto Eco
- Harald Szeemann
- Caterina Angelucci
Institutions
- Artribune
- La Biennale di Venezia
Locations
- Italy
- Venice
- France