Letizia Cariello on 'Fighettismo' and the Artist's Responsibility

Artist Letizia Cariello responds to Christian Caliandro's article in Artribune (January 10, 2023) on whether art can still change the world. She reflects on keywords like 'fighettismo' (snobbishness), vocation, pain, and responsibility, arguing that artists must engage in self-analysis and avoid ideological poses. Cariello cites influences such as Fausto Melotti, who said 'we were among ourselves,' and mentions artists like Morandi, Giacometti, and Pasolini. She questions the nature of success, taste, and the role of the artwork as an energy field. The piece is a personal meditation on authenticity, the rejection of careerism, and the need for artists to confront pain and mortality. Cariello teaches Anatomical Drawing at Brera Academy in Milan.