“First of all a young artist should do quality work, be original and innovative. He should not waste his work in a production which will bring him short-lived fame right away but is not likely to take him very far”.
What is the difference between the activities of a “research” gallery and those of a commercial gallery?
A commercial gallery deals with artists who are already popular on the market; its main role is to exchange artworks, often also among colleagues. A research gallery proposes emerging artists: it is obviously hard to spot them among the large number of male and female artists, among new expressive trends. It is also quite difficult to bring them to the attention of art critics and museum curators, and especially of art collectors.
How is a young artist supposed to build his own career? Is there a mini handbook that you could suggest? Is there anything that should be avoided altogether?
First of all a young artist should do quality work, be original and innovative. The mini handbook can be summarized as follows: he must rely on a gallery that appreciates his work and helps him bring out his talent. He should not waste his work in a production which will bring him short-lived fame right away but is not likely to take him very far.
How much does it cost, in terms of time and energy, to plan and set up an exhibit?
The variables are difficult to quantify. A lot depends on the type of artworks. Exhibits require time, energy and involve various costs. Especially when it comes to videos and installation artworks, planning time as well as production and set-up costs vary considerably and are hard to quantify.
How do you prepare a program?
By alternating male and female artists of the gallery and new proposals.
What is your exhibition line?
Since I am interested in all contemporary art expressions, I show the work of artists who use the media; painting, photography, video, and installation artworks.
Are you in contact with international art galleries? If so, how do you build a good network?
Yes, I am. I deal with several galleries; our relationship is based primarily on cooperation which stems from the need to propose artists and on the opportunity to show the art of one’s own artists in various parts of the world.
Alberto Peola Gallery - Turin
The gallery was opened in 1989 by Alberto Peola after fifteen years of experience in a number of other galleries. It is located in the center of town inside a nineteenth-century palace near the river; the exhibition space includes three large areas. The gallery follows the artwork of Italian and foreign contemporary artists, both emerging and already popular. It is particularly attentive to the new trends which find personal narrative solutions in the use of various expressive means, from photography to painting, videos and installation artworks. It has held solo exhibitions by Martin Creed, Andisheh Avini, Lala Meredith-Vula, Daniela Rossell, Perino&Vele, Hiraki Sawa, Botto and Bruno, Thorsten Kirchhoff, Candida Höfer, Sophy Rickett, Emily Jacir, Yuko Murata, Laura Pugno, Marguerite Kahrl and Paola De Pietri. It has participated in Italian and international art fairs, including Artissima in Turin, Artefiera in Bologna, Art Cologne in Cologne, ArtForum in Berlin, and Paris Photo in Paris.
2009-10-07
