Can contemporary art still impact the present?

Christian Caliandro questions the role of contemporary art today, arguing that since the 1980s and the end of the Cold War, the art world has systematically depoliticized itself, prioritizing market dynamics over social engagement. He contends that art has become a self-referential genre, as noted by Natalie Heinich 25 years ago, governed by internal logics and an elitist system that often claims inclusivity while fostering indifference. The COVID-19 pandemic, he asserts, marked an epochal rupture, yet art's response has been limited to inconsequential denunciation. Caliandro laments the absence of art that introduces 'antibodies' to dissolve partisan conflicts and enable long-term thinking about global crises. He warns that decades of biennials, major exhibitions, and curatorial efforts may have been wasted if art merely serves as a luxury commodity traded at fairs and stored in freeports. The article appears on Artribune, an Italian art publication, and includes promotional sections for newsletters on the art market, urban regeneration, and cultural tourism.