Christian Caliandro argues contemporary art must reclaim its transformative responsibility

In an opinion piece on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro critiques the presentism dominating contemporary art, arguing it has abandoned its avant-garde role as an experimental form of life. He cites Franco Fortini's 1962 text "Precisazioni" to assert that historical justice requires commitment to the future, not just the present. Caliandro traces the shift from the 1960s-70s, when artists like Warhol and Godard embodied a mentalistic, transformative art, to the 1980s onward, where art became decorative and market-driven. He contends that this acquiescence contributes to societal regression and conflict, urging a return to art as a model for alternative ways of existing and co-existing. The article references Germano Celant's 1968 text on Arte Povera to contrast past ambitions with current shortcomings. Caliandro teaches at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze and serves on the scientific committee of Symbola Foundation.