'È QUESTA L'ARTE GIOVANE?' MOSTRE, SPAZI, ARTISTI A MILANO TRA GLI ANNI OTTANTA E NOVANTA

This thesis presents an initial study of the Milanese artistic scene between the 1980s and 1990s by conducting a historical-critical analysis of the activities carried out by artists and exhibitions in both public and private spaces. It attempts to answer the question posed by Giancarlo Politi, editor of “Flash Art” magazine, in the opening article of the Young Art Special issue in autumn 1990, where he asks, “But is this young art?”, revealing the challenges in understanding the Italian artistic context. This period represents a delicate transitional moment marked by critics' indeterminacy and the resolute individuality of the artists, as well as a moment of transcending labels deemed inadequate for the complexity of the period At the center of this research are the young artists, born roughly between 1955 and 1964, who contribute to the overall renewal of the artistic scene through the timing of their career initiation and the variety of expressive languages they adopted. The thesis operates on two different levels: on one side, it provides an overview to capture the common features and potential contradictions within the identified artistic manifestations, presenting a fluid narrative without resorting to forcing or oversimplifications. On the other, it details several group exhibitions held in Milan. These events, involving artists from various parts of Italy, had a significant impact on both the local and national scenes, influencing the debate and development of the period's events. The analysis of these exhibitions serves as a fundamental methodological tool to address critical and artistic issues concurrently and enables an initial engagement with the artworks. This approach allows for the identification of works that gained significant visibility during those years and the artists who were most influential.