Christian Caliandro on Art's Slow Response to Crisis
In an editorial for Artribune Magazine, Massimiliano Tonelli and Christian Caliandro critique the art world's tepid response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Tonelli notes that despite abundant material for powerful art, few artists have engaged directly. Caliandro echoes this, observing a lack of groundbreaking works. He argues that artists face a 'subtraction of meaning' and must resist the temptation to wait for normalcy. Instead, they should radically rethink how art functions and engages with the present, moving beyond mere decoration. The piece is part of Caliandro's ongoing 'Fase Tre' series on Artribune.
Key facts
- Massimiliano Tonelli wrote an editorial in Artribune Magazine n. 58 (January-February 2021).
- Tonelli questions why few artists responded to the pandemic and Black Lives Matter.
- Christian Caliandro agrees, having waited for transformative works that did not materialize.
- Caliandro identifies a 'subtraction of meaning' affecting art.
- He urges artists to confront current conditions rather than await normalcy.
- Caliandro calls for a radical rethinking of how art functions and presents itself.
- The article is part of the 'Fase Tre' series on Artribune.
- Caliandro teaches art history at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Caliandro
- Massimiliano Tonelli
Institutions
- Artribune
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze
- Symbola Fondazione per le Qualità italiane
Locations
- Italy