Christian Caliandro critiques contemporary art's loss of time and vernacular force

In a thought-provoking essay in Artribune, Christian Caliandro argues that modern art has become detached from its historical roots and local influences, creating what he calls a 'concentrationary universe' that values sameness over authentic change. He criticizes the art world's focus on presentism, which overlooks important historical ties and leads to a stale repetition of old ideas without real engagement. By referencing Roberto Longhi's belief that art is always relational, Caliandro weaves in Mark Fisher's hauntology and the metaphysical insights of de Chirico and Savinio to illustrate these gaps. He suggests that art born from destruction can inspire a new temporal context, spotlighting works like John Baldessari's 1991 'Hope (Blue)...' and Rowena Harris's 2015 'I am the things in my pockets...' as examples of this innovative yet fragmented style. Advocating for a 'vernacular' art, he calls for true bravery and a challenge to norms. Caliandro teaches at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze and is involved with the Symbola Foundation for Italian Qualities.