Christian Caliandro on Improvisation, Risk, and Method in Art

In an essay on Artribune, Christian Caliandro reflects on improvisation as a rigorous artistic method, drawing parallels between jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins and the creative process. He critiques contemporary art's tendency toward simulated risk and domesticated conflict, advocating for genuine risk-taking without expectation of reward. Caliandro quotes Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Teorema" to underscore the vulnerability and solitude of the artist. The piece also introduces the concept of "energia residua" (residual energy), where creative waste becomes material for new work. Caliandro, an art historian and professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, calls for inventing unrecognizable techniques to avoid comparison and judgment.