The Art Quadrennial in Rome, together with the Biennial in Venice and the Triennial in Milan, can be considered one of the best exhibitive occasions for Italian contemporary art. 
An event that in all its editions has proven to be a periodic document that gathers the most significant trends of contemporary art made in Italy. In this sense, it has always been one of the most important seismographs in recording the fluctuations of the Italian art sector, helping us to understand the most significant events on the scene of visual arts and perceive the possible future evolutions.
Like the previous editions, even the Fifteenth Quadrennial ended gloriously. From the prizes awarded by an all-foreign Jury – for the first time in the history of the Institution.  A choice that satisfies the wish to give a more international breadth to the authors present and offer them the possibility to be known more closely by three high-profile critics: Suzanne Pagé (Director of the Foundation Louis Vuitton pour crèation), Gerald Matt (Director of the Kunsthalle of Vienna) and Vicente Todolì (Director of the Tate Modern of London).
Therefore, during the last weekend in Rome for the Quadrennial, the winners of the 2008 edition were awarded their prizes. Here are the winners: Adrian Paci was awarded the “Quadriennale” Prize of 20 thousand euros, while Deborah Ligorio received the “Giovane Arte” Prize (Prize for Young Art) of 10 thousand euros.  Two artists who both expressed themselves through videos. 
The Jury motivated its choice of Paci’s work by defining it “a work full of cinematographic tension, simple but efficient, realized with modest means. A deep consideration, important from a social point of view, on an issue that has always been close to emigration. A film with a strong emotional impact”. A critical observation not completely accepted by the public, which defined Adrian Paci’s video, entitled “Centro di permanenza temporanea”, as one of the most disappointing videos created by the Albanian artist, who is usually renowned in the art world for much more moving works.
With a surrealistic ecological video, “Il Sonno”, Deborah Ligorio achieved the “Prize for young art”, rousing great appreciation of the critics. Indeed, the Jury defined it: “a fascinating, hypnotizing video, that represents very well the interaction between the natural environment and the one created by man, a visual soundtrack that develops around the dialectics between documentary and fiction, between past and present”. An author that deserves to be observed in the future, given that the prize could really help her, not so much for the money, as for the publicity.
The Jury was also invited to award a gold medal for the career to a well-established Italian artist, recognized at international level, who has reached the height of his or her artistic maturity. An artist to be identified beyond the exhibition, given that this edition of the Quadrennial was dedicated to the generation of young and mid-career artists,
The prize for the career was awarded to Maurizio Cattelan (who took part, in 1996, in the twelfth edition of the Quadrennial “Ultime Generazioni”) whose works “create images that stay in the spectator’s mind, precise but ambiguous, full of tension, dramatic and ironic at the same time. His works activate and appropriate the space which he puts them in.  He challenges the public and institutions going against preconceptions and taboos”.
We must admit that the Fifteenth edition of the Quadrennial, besides having awarded the victory to excellent artists, was very appreciated for how it was edited.  A fresh and elegant organizational setting by Lucio Turchetta who succeeded in orchestrating works that were very heterogeneous for dimensions, languages and exhibition requirements.  An organizational aspect that received approval not only by the sector experts, but also by the spectators.  Indeed, the participation of the public reached very satisfying numbers. Thirty thousand visitors in 76 days of opening: a noteworthy result considering the summer period (June-September). More than a thousand catalogues were sold at the bookshops of Palazzo delle Esposizioni. A very good response from the young public, which adhered with enthusiasm to all the targeted initiatives: from the free entrance of the first Wednesday of every month, to the tour itineraries proposed by the Art Laboratory of Palazzo delle Esposizioni.
An excellent experience of contemporary art for the Italian capital. As Francesco Maria Giro, under-secretary for the Cultural heritage and activities, pointed out: “Contemporary art can and must save Rome.  Important tourist itineraries should include a strong presence of contemporary art, which should be considered as one of the most efficient touristic-cultural attractions.  An activity of promotion, safeguarding and contrast to the degradation which the archaeological heritage of the city is in, should be backed by a revival of contemporary art, in order to make Rome competitive with the other European capitals, otherwise it will continue to decline”. We can hope that these nice words are not just noises, but that they soon become reality for a country that in the contemporary sector it still marginalized at international level.  (translated by Giorgina Arcuri)