Christian Caliandro argues contemporary art must embrace radical rethinking post-pandemic

Christian Caliandro, an art historian teaching at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, contends that the contemporary art world is failing to critically analyze the ongoing crisis nearly a year after its onset. He observes a pervasive sense of unreality in attempts to resume pre-pandemic operations, with events repeatedly postponed from 2020 to 2021 and beyond. Caliandro criticizes the focus on reopening physical spaces without rethinking underlying models that were already dysfunctional. He argues that art's primary role is to construct a new paradigm by inhabiting it while creating it, placing the artwork at the center. He warns against art that has become mere decoration, citing musician Trent Reznor's comparison of contemporary music to McDonald's—a quick fix that leaves one unsatisfied. Caliandro calls for a radical reimagining of art as service, reflection, and critique.