Christian Caliandro's Critical Essay on Modernism as Illusion

Christian Caliandro, an art historian and professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, published a critical essay on Artribune arguing that modernism is a perspectival illusion. The essay, titled "Critica viva. Modernismo e illusioni," reflects on the nature of success, failure, and artistic reception. Caliandro draws on literary references including Mariateresa Di Lascia's "Passaggio in ombra" (1995) and Jack Kerouac's concept of "beat" as both beaten and blessed. He contends that success stories are meaningless narratives, while failure possesses an alluring quality. The piece also references artists such as Antoni Pevsner ("Testa," 1923-24) and Marta Roberti ("Nature is a Rethorician Place," 2015). Caliandro is a member of the scientific committee of Symbola Fondazione per le Qualità italiane and has published extensively on contemporary art and cultural history.