Art criticism is vanishing from mainstream media, but here's the uncomfortable question: does art and culture still need critics? Our host, Joana P. R. Neves, art curator and writer, examines why critics are leaving big outlets without being replaced—and what this means for art criticism, artistic quality assessment, curatorial etiquette, and the future of art evaluation itself. What is art criticism actually for? And where does Joana's feminist critique of critique lead to? And who decides what's good art now? Or, rather, is “good art” the yardstick by which art experiences should be measured?
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Joana explores 3 questions in this episode: What is Art Criticism? Who reads it and who or what does art criticism serve? And finally, what is her own relation with it as someone who admittedly is not fond of the genre?
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Art Etiquette Segment guest:
Elizabeth Botten, Reference Specialist at the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art
Art question: what can we do to accommodate visitors and make their exhibition experience enjoyable while preserving art etiquette?
Soon: Bonus – full length Art Etiquette episodes.
Segment: Brainstorm in a Teacup:
Come for the art, stay for the creative writing segment, where Joana reads short texts from her notebooks exposing her inner thoughts and odd fictional flash writing.
Jingle: "Wunder", experimental poem by Joana P. R. Neves.
0:00: Intro: Where to continue your Exhibitionistas experience.
2:27: Today's question: is art criticism still valid?
4:56: Why are art critics vanishing? And how?
7:05: 3 guiding questions of the episode: what is it, who does it serve and who is reading - or not
8:46: What is art criticism? A scandal and a text.
15:35: Genius, excellence, quality: are these outdated questions?
24:35: Who is reading art criticism?
27:12: Art Etiquette with Elizabeth Botten
38:08: What does art criticism do, and what or who is it upholding?
46:44: Joana's honest reckoning with art criticism
54:14: Brainstorm in a Teacup (Creative Writing segment)
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Created & Hosted by Dr. Joana P. R. Neves, art curator and writer with over 20 years of experience in the contemporary art field. Artistic director of Drawing Now Paris since 2018, she has worked across the industry, from the art market to education. She co-launched the art residency and project space Worldingin 2020. Exhibitionistas’ first year offered exhibition discussions with guest co-host Emily Harding; organically, it grew into a more experimental show exploring art topics, stories and interviews complemented by Joana’s publication Art Thinkosaurus on Substack. She champions ‘Art Wonderment’s’ embrace of complexity against the lure of ready-made opinions. A polyglot, she grew up in Lisbon, studied and lived in Paris, to finally settle in London with her artist husband, four children and two cats.
Find us:
On Instagram – @exhibitionistas_podcast
On Substack (NEWSLETTER: sign up!): Art Thinkosaurus > Exhibitionistas Files
Online: www.exhibitionistaspodcast.com
Do you want to be a guest on Art Etiquette? Reach out: joana@exhibitionistaspodcast.com
Copyright: Joana P. R. Neves, 2024.
