Christian Caliandro argues beauty in art is a cultural regression

Christian Caliandro, an art historian and professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, argues that the return of beauty as a central value in contemporary art represents a cultural regression. He contends that beauty has become a 'safe-haven asset' (bene-rifugio), replacing more critical and progressive artistic positions. Caliandro links this trend to the commodification of art, where artworks are reduced to consumable products, and to the dominance of the art market. He criticizes the museum experience as a dehumanizing consumption of masterpieces, citing Paolo Di Paolo's reflection on the overwhelming flow of books in media. Caliandro sees this as a manifestation of alienation, echoing the Frankfurt School's critique of the culture industry. The article, published on Artribune, is part of a series by Caliandro on contemporary art and society.