Alessandra Pioselli is an art critic and curator based in Milan. She is the artistic director of the Bergamo Fine Arts Academy. She contributes to Artforum. During this first part of our Skype conversation, she talks about the contemporary art scene of Milan. “The municipal election of May 2011 changed the conditions of the city of Milan. The new City Council swept away the previous right-wing administrators that very little have done in terms of culture. The appointment of Stefano Boeri as new Councilor for Culture raised many expectations. Perhaps some of these expectations have not been fully met.”
“Main goal of the Councilor for Culture is the creation of a cultural district on the model of foreign towns such as Berlin or London. Concerning contemporary art, the strategic choice is to involve international consultants, big, unassailable names, such as Francesco Bonami and Okwui Enwezor. They are chosen within the international arena in order to reposition Milan at the center of the international cultural debate. The risk of involving consultants with many commitments at an international level, is to not ensure continuity and a real connection to the city. The names of the consultants are fine and can certainly represent a winning strategy in order to create a whole series of relationships. But they all should understand the city necessities: continuity, stability, clear directions, and long term programs.”
Interview by Tiziana Casapietra