Christian Caliandro critiques contemporary art's social irrelevance

In a 2017 essay published on Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro argues that contemporary art has become a set of exclusive social rituals rather than a meaningful force for collective life. He suggests that the art world has grown comfortable with its own irrelevance, serving elite groups instead of the broader public. Caliandro calls for artists to fully engage with communities, embracing openness and even self-annihilation to reconnect with people. He references Francis Picabia's 1921 work "L'oeil cacodylate" and Douglas Gordon's "through a looking glass" at the 1999 Venice Biennale as touchstones. The essay, dated June 2017, reflects on the collapse of time in the contemporary era and the need to rebuild on new foundations after decades of cultural and economic decline.