Christian Caliandro on Art's Survival Beyond Ego and Style

In a series of reflections published on Artribune in July 2021, art historian Christian Caliandro explores the survival of art beyond individual ego and style. Drawing on Keith Haring's diaries, Carla Lonzi's feminist writings, T.S. Eliot's poetry, and a quote from Orson Welles, Caliandro argues for a horizontal, collaborative practice that dissolves the artist's self into context. He critiques the performance-oriented, competitive mindset dominating contemporary culture and proposes an alternative based on self-annihilation, horizontality, co-authorship, and process over product. The text references a 2021 event at Ceramiche Tombelli in Montelupo Fiorentino, where Laura Cionci presented work, and mentions Nico's cart in Barletta. Caliandro teaches at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze and serves on the scientific committee of Symbola Foundation.