The Visible project (Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto/Fondazione Zegna) was commissioned by the Public Art Agency Sweden to conduct research on the relationship between theory and socially engaged artistic practices, and Collectively Annotated Bibliography: On Artistic Practices in the Expanded Field of Public Art is the result of such research. Compiled and edited by Judith Wielander and Matteo Lucchetti, the 150 different materials included inside this book reflect a decolonial perspective that takes into account the biases, privileges and power positions of those who have dictated the dominant perspectives on art history so far.
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The publication is the result of a longstanding commitment by Public Art Agency Sweden and Visible to issues of knowledge production in terms of collective and critical work in the expanded field of public art. Conceived as an annotated bibliography, that is, a classic bibliography with brief explanations of the major themes of each book, this bibliography is introduced via conversations with a philosopher (Emanuele Coccia), an academic researcher (Andrea Phillips) and an independent curator (Gabi Ngcobo). They reflect on what creating a bibliography that informs and inspires artistic practices in the extended field of public art means today.
Perhaps this annotated bibliography represents a possible alliance that departs from the bookshelves of our living rooms while we are experiencing isolation and social distancing in the solitude of our homes. The bonds that this research visualises across book suggestions and urgencies of our times is already an extended field where art practices for the common good are planting new seeds.
Judith Wielander and Matteo Lucchetti
At the core of this Collectively Annotated Bibliography are the ten curators and researchers (Miguel A. López, LU Pey-Yi, Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga, Narawan Kyo Pathomvat, RAW Material Company, Shela Sheikh, Pelin Tan, Meenakshi Thirukode, Joanna Warsza, Vivian Ziherl) from diverse backgrounds and contexts who have been invited to suggest the titles that are most representative of the current debate on the present and future of art in the public domain. Each bibliographical note is supplied by one or more quotes – some in their original language – and links to the publishers or reviews to explore topics addressed in the suggested books in more detail.
About the author
Judith Wielander is an independent curator based in Brussels. Her curatorial research focuses on the intersection of art and social engagement. From 2002 to 2010, she was curator at Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto. In 2009, she initiated the Visible project in dialogue with Michelangelo Pistoletto, and has cocurated it since 2011 with Matteo Lucchetti. In 2010, she produced The Horror Show File, the first film in Wael Shawky’s trilogy Cabaret Crusades, which she co-initiated. Wielander was cocurator of Bordeaux Urban Art Biennale, Evento 2011, the Belgian Pavilion at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014 and curator of Le Jardin Essentiel at Parckdesign, Brussels, in 2016. Since 2021, she is researcher and cocurator at the Expanding Academy at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp with Nico Dockx. In 2023-24 she has been Lecturer at the Decolonizing Architecture Advanced Course at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm and in 2024-25 she collaborates with the HISK, Antwerp.
About the author
Matteo Lucchetti is a curator, art historian, and writer based in Rome. He is currently curator for contemporary arts and cultures at Museo delle Civilità in Rome. Since 2011, he has been co-curating Visible with Judith Wielander. He is also a guest curator for the project Pompeii Commitment. Archaeological Matters. In 2017–18, he worked as curator of exhibitions and public programs at BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, and was curator of the 16th Art Quadriennale in Rome. Lucchetti’s most recent curatorial projects include Museum of Opacities, Museo delle Civiltà, Rome, 2023; DAAR’s Ente di Decolonizzazione, Borgo Rizza, winner of the Golden Lion at the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale, 2023; Climavore Italy with Cooking Sections, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome, 2021; Marzia Migliora: The Spectre of Malthus, MA*GA, Gallarate, 2020–21; and Sammy Baloji: Other Tales, Lunds konsthall and Kunsthal Aarhus, 2020. He has been a visiting professor at HISK, Ghent; Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam; Sint Lucas Antwerpen, Antwerp; and Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan.
