καιρός remembered

The art is not our thing

Art critic and politician Vittorio Sgarbi was appointed curator of the Italian pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011). Given that he is known for his opposition to modern art – and certainly to the ‘mafia’ that organises the art world – his appointment was rather controversial. He decided not to select the works for the exhibition himself, but to ask some 200 others (artists, critics, intellectuals) to do so on his behalf. The result was a veritable hodgepodge of artworks, varying greatly in style and quality, haphazardly thrown together as if it were a jumble sale. And Sgarbi put his stamp on it by giving the exhibition the title ‘L’Arte non è cosa nostra’, a nod to the real Mafia

One of the themes that recurred in many of the selected works – and which seems to be a preoccupation for the artists – is religion and the Church – the Catholic Church, of course – which is perhaps not very surprising in this country, and certainly not very original. The photograph above gives a good impression of the exhibition as a sort of bazaar, featuring a kitsch, painted crucifix. In another photograph, we see a sculpture of a naked man hanging in a pose similar to that of Christ on the cross.

And in still another photo we are in a church or chapel with, instead of Christ, a bleeding Italy on the cross.

And then there was the work “Cristo morto – Che Guevara morto”, in which the dead body of Christ, copied from the well known painting by Mantegna, is lying next to the dead body of Che Guevara.

L’Arte non è cosa nostra, the art is not our thing: the state of modern art in Italy 2011.

Photo of the week: The Italian pavilion at the 54th Biennale in Venice, Italy, 2011