Christian Caliandro on Art's Escape from Control and Predictability

In an article for Artribune, art historian Christian Caliandro argues that contemporary art is trapped in a system of control and predictability, mirroring broader societal trends. He connects the concept of "likeability" to predictability and the suppression of the unexpected. Caliandro identifies a pervasive, immaterial form of control in daily life—from bars to beaches—that extends to art. He critiques the use of nostalgia in popular culture, citing "Stranger Things" as an example of "synthetic nostalgia" that creates a hybrid present/past, offering comfort without genuine temporal depth. Drawing on Georgi Gospodinov's novel "Cronorifugio" (Time Shelter), Caliandro emphasizes the need for "time and a story" to develop a shared imaginary, which he believes is currently lacking. He suggests that most contemporary artworks operate within a predetermined circuit of predictability, but those that can break free from this temporal blockage and act unexpectedly have a chance to offer genuine resistance. The article is part of a series on "arte sfrangiata" (frayed art) published by Artribune.