Christian Caliandro on Art in Domestic Spaces and Abolishing the Superfluous

In the fifteenth installment of the series 'L’arte rotta' on Artribune, Christian Caliandro reflects on how the pandemic has shifted art production from large studios to intimate domestic spaces, citing Jerry Saltz's observation that art is now made on kitchen tables with children nearby. Caliandro argues that while this condition is new for the New York art world, it has long been the reality for most Italian artists. He contends that the virus acts as an amplifier and accelerator of pre-existing processes, demanding the elimination of filters and the superfluous, which he equates with fiction and representation. He quotes Laura Cionci, who writes about turning action inward toward the self. Caliandro suggests that current transformations, which might have taken years to manifest, offer an opportunity for greater freedom and intimacy, moving beyond spectacle and consumption. Artworks and artists can break down barriers and provide models for overcoming the desire for visibility. The article includes images of works by Emanuela Barilozzi Caruso and Aryan Ozmaei.