On February 24, 2017, IA&A hosted Art in Context: Italy, a discussion on contemporary Italian culture, identity, and the broader socio-economic conditions impacting creative work. The event was held at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space as part of the exhibition MARCO BAGNOLI, DOMENICO BIANCHI, REMO SALVADOR: From the Olnick Spanu Collection.
The event included a discussion with panelists Renato Miracco, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Italy, Cianne Fragione, artist, educator, and second-generation Italian American, and Manuela, former Event Coordinator at the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, DC, and current Youth-to-Youth Steering Committee Co-Chair at the World Bank Group. Each panelist provided thoughtful insights about the intersection between contemporary Italian art and identity. Allison Nance, Director of Hillyer Art Space, moderated the dynamic discussion between panelists and audience members.
The discussion covered a range of topics, but began with the daunting task of defining what it means to be “Italian” today. There was a consensus from Renato, Cianne, and Manuela that there is a certain pride one feels when being Italian or Italian-American. Italian culture, and by association heritage, has a strong connotation with beauty. According to Manuela, being Italian in America is like “being an ambassador of beauty abroad . . . growing up Italian is growing up in a culture of beauty.”
Italy’s rich cultural history can, in some instances, act as a barrier rather than a resource. There is a vast repertoire of work proceeding contemporary Italian artists that it can be challenging to define a modern identity. The panelists agreed that it is important to look back at history in order to modernize and bring it forward. “There is a burden of history,” notes Cianne, “[Artists] don’t all want to be Michelangelo.” This may be part of the reason why Italian artists seek opportunities abroad opposed to in their home country. Renato explained that many artists find it easier to achieve recognition abroad before gaining the same reputation in their home country.
Towards the end of the conversation, the panelists discussed how society can better support the arts as a whole. Cianne, an artist and arts educator, stressed that there needs to be a shift in how the arts and other creative fields are viewed. American society places more worth on STEM fields, an emphasis that discourages students from pursuing careers in the arts or creative industries.
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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.
