Christian Caliandro's Letters to a Young Artist: On Style and Reality
Christian Caliandro publishes a series of letters to young artists on Artribune, reflecting on concentration, memory, and the invisible style of reality. He recounts a personal memory of his mother's hairbrush and the song 'Hardly Getting Over It' by Hüsker Dü, which defined his adolescence. In a letter dated May 2, 2018, he describes the metaphysical nature of Borgo Croci in Foggia, noting the post-war architecture and the resilient identity of the place. Caliandro argues that this 'style of reality' is invisible and often mistaken for something old, while the avant-garde is inverted with the rearguard. He critiques the paralysis of Italian and Western societies, dominated by stale fictions and narrative incrustations, and calls for the generation of imagery through the perception of 'new' Italians: youth, women, and immigrants.
Key facts
- Christian Caliandro wrote a series of letters to young artists published on Artribune.
- The letters are dated May 15, 2018 and May 2, 2018.
- Caliandro mentions his mother's hairbrush with brown handle and blonde hairs from six years ago.
- He cites the song 'Hardly Getting Over It' by Hüsker Dü from the album 'Candy Apple Grey' (1986).
- He discovered the CD at Ricordi in via Sparano around age 11-12 (1990-1991).
- The letter describes Borgo Croci in Foggia, specifically vico Angusto, a square that is an alley due to a collapsed building.
- Caliandro identifies a 'style of reality' that is invisible and viral.
- He argues that Italian and Western societies are paralyzed by stale fictions and narrative incrustations.
- He calls for the generation of imagery through the perception of 'new' Italians: young, women, immigrants.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Caliandro
Institutions
- Artribune
- Ricordi
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze
- Symbola Fondazione per le Qualità italiane
Locations
- Foggia
- Borgo Croci
- vico Angusto
- via Sparano
- Italia
- Occidente