Critica viva: Christian Caliandro on identity, trauma, and the colorful reality of ancient Greek sculpture

In the ninth installment of his series 'Critica viva' on Artribune, Christian Caliandro reflects on the concept of identity, contrasting deep, authentic self-understanding with pre-packaged narratives. He discusses the polychromy of ancient Greek sculptures—korai, kouroi, and Cycladic figurines—which were originally painted in vivid colors like red, blue, and green, challenging the traditional Western ideal of white marble classicism. Caliandro notes that classical art was not about purifying forms but about faithfully reproducing reality and social status. He also references a passage from Christophe Boltanski's 'Il nascondiglio' about the fragility of memory and the construction of identity through storytelling. The article mentions the 'Odissea' exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on April 9, and a monument to Franco and Ciccio by Laboratorio Saccardi in Palermo. Caliandro frames his writing as a challenge to readers, encouraging openness and engagement. The piece includes references to El Lissitzky's 'Record' (1926) and a planned residency based on Lucretius's 'De Rerum Natura'.