October NUI Galway Lecture Series to Focus on How Art is Measured

As part of the ‘Spotlight on Research’ lecture series at NUI Galway’s College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies, a lecture will be given by recently elected member of the Royal Irish Academy, Professor Paolo Bartoloni on the topic ‘From “great” to violent: on contemporary art’.  The lecture will be held on Thursday, 31 October from 5-7pm, in room G011 in the Moore Institute.

Professor Bartoloni will examine the question ‘How is art measured today, and is it possible to speak of contemporary art as “great”’? At the turn of the millennium many believed that art was simply commercially driven or its opposite, ephemeral. Postmodernism has often been blamed for the demise of “greatness” in art and the fading away of art’s enigma and complexity. And yet the postmodern bubble is supposed to have burst years ago, as far back as 2005, some believe. Professor Bartoloni will look at where are we, and what kind of parameters can be used to relate to contemporary art? And, does contemporary art still matter and has art turned from “great” to violent, yet violent to whom and for what purpose? By looking at a series of curatorial practices in the city of Florence, this lecture will rehearse some of these questions, focusing on the way in which local identity might be challenged and even violated by the assemblage of disparate art forms that bring about what the visual studies expert Nicholas Mirzoeff calls ‘neoculturation’.

Dr Seán Crosson, Vice-Dean for Research in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies at NUI Galway, said: “The Spotlight on Research series aims to highlight the world leading and ground-breaking research being undertaken across our College. Academics within the College have received national and international recognition for the research they are undertaking, including major awards and recognition such as the recent election of Professor Bartoloni as a member of the Royal Irish Academy, regarded as the highest academic honour in Ireland. This series provides a platform for us to recognise and bring these research achievements to the attention of both the academic community and the wider general public.”

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