Appetite (art gallery)
| Company type | Artist-run gallery |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art gallery |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Daniela Luna |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires, New York, London, Vilnius, Milan, Beijing |
Key people | Daniela Luna |
| Products | Contemporary art exhibitions |
Appetite (styled as APPETITE) was an artist-run gallery space established by Daniela Luna in the San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its primary goal was to exhibit and support emerging artistic talent. The gallery occasionally sparked debate before ceasing operations in mid-2011.
History
Founded in 2005 by Daniela Luna, Appetite played a pivotal role in elevating San Telmo into a recognized hub for contemporary art within Buenos Aires.
The gallery became known for showcasing up-and-coming artists and hosting dynamic opening events. The New York Times characterized it as "an irreverent, punk-inflected gallery in San Telmo started by Daniela Luna, a feisty 30-year-old known for her shrewd eye and cool parties."
By mid-2010, Appetite had shuttered its three Buenos Aires venues as Luna moved to Beijing, China.
New York
Between 2008 and 2009, Appetite maintained a presence in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where it organized exhibitions and cultural events. It took part in New York art fairs such as the Pinta Art Show. The New York Times remarked: "For once, a fair looks like an art exhibition... And when a booth is crowded, the pieces can be blamed, as is the case at Appetite, a gallery with branches in Buenos Aires and Brooklyn that shows young artists working in an accumulative mode."
London
Appetite became the first Argentinian gallery to be accepted at the Frieze Art Fair, drawing attention from both media and visitors. Its booth addressed the global economic downturn, generating some controversy.
The New York Times noted: "With first-time exhibitors from China, Turkey, India and Argentina (from Buenos Aires, Appetite, where the work of about 10 artists is displayed in a kind of continuous trash heap), Frieze still managed to provide a random snapshot of an increasingly global and youthful art world in transition."
Vilnius
At Art Vilnius 09, Appetite was nominated for best stand. During this fair, Daniela Luna performed at the Vilnius Graphic Art Center and organized a video screening featuring Argentinian artists.
Milan
In April 2008, Appetite participated in the FOCUS BUENOS AIRES collective at the MiArt fair. Supported by Buenos Aires' culture minister Hernán Lombardi and curated by Adriana Forconi and Florencia Braga Menéndez, this group highlighted emerging Argentine galleries. La Nación emphasized this collaborative effort while The New York Times praised Appetite’s presence at MiArt 2008 and described Buenos Aires’ art scene as "frenetic and blissfully chaotic."
Beijing
Daniela Luna inaugurated an Appetite venue in Beijing’s 798 Art Zone in March 2011, later relocating it to Caochangdi in November that year. Luna also researched Chinese contemporary art across Beijing and Hong Kong; her insights were published in a four-page feature in the Argentinian magazine DMag.
War Club
Launched by Daniela Luna in 2008, War Club was an underground event hosted in a clandestine warehouse accessible only via password. It featured underground DJs, live bands, site-specific art installations, and performances. Time Out described it as "Arty meets party," drawing a varied audience of artists, collectors, and intellectuals into an unrefined industrial setting adorned with graffiti, murals, and installations inspired by Luna’s punk aesthetic.
Tanto Deseo
Since 2006, Tanto Deseo has operated in San Telmo as a concept store and exhibition venue dedicated to erotic art and related objects. It gained prominence with a cover feature in Les Inrockuptibles, which characterized it as "an erotic-artistic offshoot of APPETITE gallery, the principal hub for emerging art led by Daniela Luna." Tanto Deseo functions as an innovative space where various desires and impulses find artistic expression.[1] The project received the "Revelation Award" at the 2008 Puro Diseño event. The cultural publication Leedor recognized Tanto Deseo alongside Appetite for nurturing artistic freedom, resisting commercial constraints, and addressing a cultural void within the city.[2]
Controversies
Appetite encountered censorship challenges and financial penalties due to its daring content that included themes of sexuality, violence, and political or economic criticism.
A significant dispute emerged in 2008 when ten artists suddenly severed ties with the gallery. As reported by Clarin, this event represented a turning point following Frieze: "Ten artists distanced themselves from Appetite... media coverage centered on Daniela Luna's persona, drawing comparisons to a diva."[3]
Renowned Argentine art critic Rafael Cippollini assessed Appetite's development in La Nación: "After a rapid ascent came overextension—launching projects in Buenos Aires, New York, London—and ultimately staff dismissals. Daniela Luna’s bold and swift expansion was unique and unmatched within the local art scene."[4]
External links
- ↑ Javier Villa, "Arte humedo", Les Inrockuptibles, 2007
- ↑ Beatriz Montenegro de Antico y Eugenia Garay Basualdo, "Appetite y Tanto Deseo", El leedor, April 21, 2008
- ↑ Victoria Cerruti, "Broken Heart", Si de Clarin, February 6, 2009
- ↑ Rafael Cippollini, "Un año incubadora", La Nación, ADN, December 27, 2008
- Art museums and galleries in Argentina
- Artist-run centres
- Contemporary art galleries in South America
- Defunct art museums and galleries
- Argentine art
- Art museums and galleries established in 2005
- Art museums and galleries disestablished in 2010
- 2005 establishments in Argentina
- 2010 disestablishments in Argentina