The Trouble with Art Criticism

This panel, chaired by curator and writer Teresa Gleadowe, speakers include JJ Charlesworth, associate editor at ArtReview Magazine; Adrian Searle, chief art critic of The Guardian newspaper; Melissa Gronlund; Managing Editor of Afterall journal, as well as Contributing Editor for Frieze, independent writer and curator Tom Morton.

The alarm bells about the crisis in art criticism have been rung many times in recent years, but what exactly is the crisis?

Leading arts writers and critics have claimed that while once art criticism was passionate, polemical and judgmental, today's critics are more likely to find themselves tangled in a web of obscure language and neutrality. This Trouble With discussion panel seeks to tackle the nature of the ominous crisis in art criticism and identify what has changed, why, and whether it makes sense to look back at historic criticism for guidance.

This event took place on 14 December 2011