Con una mostra di Venezia il grande artista Joseph Kosuth dimostra la sua fiducia nel linguaggio
Joseph Kosuth, a pioneer of conceptual art, presents a new exhibition titled "The Exchange Value of Language Has Fallen to Zero" at Casa dei Tre Oci in Venice. The show features both historical works from the 1960s, such as "One and Three Mirrors" (1965), and a new neon piece "A Chain of Resemblance" created for the occasion, which pays homage to Michel Foucault. The exhibition explores themes of language, authorship, and community, including works like "The Fifth Investigation" (1969) and a poster from the 1976 Venice Biennale. Kosuth, who lived in Venice from 2021 to 2025, has a deep connection to the city, having participated in eight editions of the Venice Biennale and maintaining two permanent installations there.
The exhibition matters because it addresses the contemporary crisis of language—its devaluation due to artificial intelligence and superficial human use—while offering an optimistic perspective that language can regain its value. Kosuth's work remains influential in conceptual art, and his return to Venice with a site-specific installation reaffirms the city's role as a vital platform for critical artistic discourse. The show also highlights the enduring relevance of Kosuth's investigations into the relationship between text, image, and viewer, engaging audiences in a dialogue about meaning and perception.