Fase 2: The Art World Must Confront Contempt
In a critical essay on Artribune, Christian Caliandro argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered the contemporary art system obsolete, as it clings to outdated models of exclusion and contempt. He notes that Art Basel canceled its 2020 edition after postponing from June to September, signaling further disruptions. Caliandro draws a parallel between the art world's denial and the racial justice protests following George Floyd's murder, quoting Jean Genet's 1970 speech that civilizations based on contempt are already dead. He contends that artworks and institutions that disdain their audiences are no longer contemporary, and that the pandemic has accelerated a shift in perception that cannot be ignored.
Key facts
- Art Basel canceled its 2020 edition after postponing from June to September.
- Christian Caliandro wrote the essay for Artribune.
- The essay draws a parallel between the art world's response to COVID-19 and the protests after George Floyd's murder.
- Jean Genet's 1970 speech is quoted: 'All civilizations based on contempt must necessarily disappear.'
- Caliandro argues that the pandemic has made the art system's obsolescence evident.
- The essay states that artworks that disdain their interlocutors are no longer contemporary.
- Serena Fineschi's work 'Viva questo mondo di merda' (2012) is referenced in the article.
- The article is part of a series titled 'Fase Due' on Artribune.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Caliandro
- Jean Genet
- Serena Fineschi
Institutions
- Art Basel
- Artribune
- M12 Gallery
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze
- Symbola Fondazione per le Qualità italiane
Locations
- Minneapolis
- United States
- Bruxelles