Francesco Clemente's Winter Flowers Bloom at Santa Maria della Scala

Francesco Clemente returns to Siena with a solo exhibition at Santa Maria della Scala, featuring ten new works created over the past five years. Titled 'Fiori d’inverno a New York,' the show originated from a collaboration with his wife, Alba Primiceri, an actress and choreographer who selected winter-blooming flowers in New York for Clemente to paint. The artist employs vegetal pigments and alchemical techniques, blending Italian, American, and Indian cultural references. The exhibition comprises two thematic cycles of five canvases each: one inspired by Agnes Martin's square formats, the other by the Tree of Life, exploring symbolic dimensions. Clemente's work evokes a sense of nostalgic hope, with motifs like wheels, human dances, and boats reflecting Buddhist notions of emptiness and independence. Curated by Max Seidel, the show runs until October 2, 2016, with a catalog published by Sillabe.