BOOK: Lucia Marcucci, Museion

The monograph dedicated to Lucia Marcucci, published by the Museion – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Bolzano Bozen, represents a significant step toward consolidating the critical reception of one of the most important figures in Visual Poetry. Developed through a research trajectory initiated in 2018 and culminating in the exhibition “Lucia Marcucci. Poesie e no” (2023), the volume brings together curatorial, archival, and scholarly work into a cohesive and accessible format.

Rather than functioning as a simple exhibition catalogue, the book adopts a thematic structure that reflects the complexity of Marcucci’s practice. Divided into four sections and enriched by contributions from multiple authors, it combines historical contextualization with contemporary interpretation. Each section is introduced by Marcucci’s own writings—some previously unpublished—allowing her voice to play a central role in framing the critical discourse around her work.

A key strength of the publication lies in its integration of visual and textual materials. The extensive iconographic apparatus, including works and archival documents presented for the first time, offers valuable insight into the evolution of Marcucci’s artistic language. At the same time, the inclusion of her literary production highlights a dimension of her practice that has often been overlooked.

The dialogue with Raffaella Perna further expands the scope of the monograph, situating Marcucci’s work within broader contemporary debates and emphasizing its continued relevance. By connecting Italian verbo-visual practices to an international context and engaging a new generation of researchers, the publication not only revisits Marcucci’s legacy but also repositions it within current art historical narratives.

Overall, this monograph stands as an essential contribution to the study of Visual Poetry and a key reference for future research. – Efi Michalarou