Christian Caliandro's 'Contro l'arte fighetta' Critiques Art World Elitism

Christian Caliandro's new book 'Contro l'arte fighetta' (Castelvecchi, 2023) argues that the contemporary art world is dominated by 'fighetti' (hipsters/trendy insiders) who prioritize style over radical innovation. Caliandro, an art historian teaching at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, traces his own awareness of this phenomenon from his time at Scuola Normale Superiore to his immersion in the art world over the last fifteen years. He contends that art has ceased to be a vehicle for social mobility, with the poor excluded from shaping collective imagination. True radicality, he writes, emerges from social struggle and manifests as 'non-style'—a break from established forms that eventually becomes codified. He cites movements from Impressionism to IDM as examples. In contrast, 'fighetti' seek comfort in familiar styles, avoiding the discomfort of the unknown. Caliandro laments the absence of heirs to his heroes (van Gogh, Schiele, Pollock, etc.) and criticizes the success of artists like Damien Hirst. The book is published in the Fuoriuscita series and is available for €16.