From the Ulassai Biennale to the role of the neo-avant-gardes, Gianni Murtas analyzes the present of Sardinian art among young talents, territory, cultural memory and future perspectives.
The Ulassai Biennale, the legacy of Maria Lai and the future of contemporary art in Sardinia were at the center of the interview given by Gianni Murtas to the microphones of Unica Radio. The art historian has offered a broad reflection on the state of island artistic production, on the new generations and on the opportunities that the territory can still offer to culture.
The Ulassai Biennale and the meaning of the work
For Gianni Murtas, the Ulassai Biennale represents much more than just an exhibition. The 2025 edition, entitled "The meaning of the work", tried to deepen the way in which the public contributes to the construction of the sense of contemporary art.
The event was born from the experience of the Ulassai Art Station and the heritage left by Maria Lai. Precisely from this legacy a path takes shape that involves emerging artists, curators and cultural realities of the area.
The second edition brought together nineteen artists, divided into different sections curated by Francesca Sassu, Gianella Demuro and Ivo Serafino Fenu. The goal was to bring different languages into dialogue around a central question: who really attributes meaning to a work of art?
To learn more about the work of the Stazione Dellarte, you can consult the official website of the Foundation: Art station.
The legacy of Maria Lai in the present
According to Gianni Murtas, Maria Lai's legacy continues to be an essential reference. Not so much as a model to imitate, as as a method of work and thought.
The Ulassai artist has built an innovative relationship between art and community, anticipating many practices that are now considered fundamental in public art. His idea that a work gains value through the interpretation of the public continues to influence numerous contemporary paths.
The Stazione dellArte holds over 140 works donated by the artist and still represents one of the main cultural reference points of the island.
To learn more about the figure of Maria Lai, the dedicated portal is available: Maria Lai Foundation.
The role of the Sardinian avant-garde
During the interview, Gianni Murtas paid particular attention to the neo-avant-gardes who, between the fifties and sixties, contributed to profoundly renew the regional artistic panorama.
Artists such as Gaetano Brundu, Donino Casula and Mirella Mibelli have opened Sardinia to the great European currents, overcoming an exclusively identity vision of art.
That research path found one of his most significant moments in the historic collection built by Ugo Ugo, which for years represented an important meeting point between Sardinian and national artistic experiences.
Contemporary art in Sardinia: talent and difficulty
Analyzing the present, Gianni Murtas highlights a complex situation. On the one hand, there are numerous talented artists, oft