Giancarlo Politi

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Giancarlo Politi is the founder of Flash Art Magazine the leading art magazines in the world. In 1967, Italian born Giancarlo Politi started his own magazine, called "Flash", and then changed into Flash Art, which then became a real point of reference to the art world. In the mid-70s he founded Giancarlo Politi Editore, who publishes art books, catalogues, and "Art Diary", a guide to artists studios, art galleries, art critics and art institutions. Art Diary, for instance is a real must have object. Every person in the art world owns always a copy for contacting artists or dealers in the easiest way, in fact for every city and country, there are emails, telephone numbers and addresses of people involved in contemporary art Art Diary. Giancarlo Politi also have a special section in the magazine where he answers the readers' questions and doubts about art world. Giancarlo Politi, somehow has changed the way people see contemporary art, especially in Italy. Every cover of Flash Art is an indicator of who are the next best contemporary artists. He, together with wife Helena Kontova, publish both Italian and International issue of Flash Art Flash Art International.

In 1992, Giancarlo Politi, founded the Trevi Flash Art Museum. Trevi, a beautiful medieval town located in the Umbrian hills, center of Italy, has hosted, thanks to the museum, the most famous names in the art world such as Vito Acconci, Gina Pane, Walter De Maria, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, Bob Morris, Julian Schnabel, Francesco Clemente, Jeff Koons, and the most recent artists like Matthew Barney, Maurizio Cattelan, Vanessa Beecroft, Marina Abramovic and Damien Hirst.

In 2001, Giancarlo Politi started the so called 'no-budget biennals'. The first one was in Tirana, but then, for institutional reasons (apparently there were conflicts with the some art institutions in Tirana), he opted for Prague. He invited some of the most famous artists to make special pieces for these biennals. The pieces should have not been difficult to transport in order not to have massive bills! The initiative turned out to be a real success and after Tirana, Giancarlo Politi and Helena Kontova opened Prague Biennale, in July 2003. Then Prague Biennale 2, in May 2005 and Prague Biennale 3 is already due for 2007! Prague Biennale is also a foundation.

Giancarlo Politi is not only a publisher. He is also a curator, a museum director, and a real art discoverer. Even though he has been around for quite a while, he still has enthusiasm about emerging art.