Raffaele Gavarro's 'L'arte senza l'arte' Explores the 'Analogicodigitale' Reality

Raffaele Gavarro's book 'L'arte senza l'arte' (Maretti, 2020) examines the shift from analog to a hybrid 'analogicodigitale' reality in contemporary art. Gavarro argues that digital code and algorithms strip existential content from technique, leading to a new art form that merges physical and digital. He uses Christian Marclay's 'Clock' (2010) to illustrate how technology besieges existence. The book discusses 'digital waste' as a substantial part of artworks, transforming into a 'meme mode' that challenges traditional art criticism. Gavarro references works by Damien Hirst, Roberto Cuoghi, Hito Steyerl, and Pierre Huyghe to map contemporary aesthetic thought. He coins 'realistätsgeist' (spirit of reality) to describe the interdependence of physical existence and imagination. The text aligns with Jacques Rancière's ideas on art and politics, citing Tania Bruguera, Julian Rosefeldt, Olafur Eliasson, and Alterazioni Video. Gavarro calls for a shift in perspective to recognize new artistic essence.