INTROSPECTION OF A SELF-PORTRAIT

I WAS ASKED TO CREATE A LIVE ACT FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE PRESTIGIOUS “FRANCIS BACON – A JOURNEY INTO THE THOUSAND FACES OF THE MODERN MAN” EXHIBITION, HOSTED AT THE CA’ DEI CARRARESI MUSEUM IN TREVISO (ITALY).

THE PERFORMANCE WAS INSPIRED, NOT ONLY BY BACON’S LIFE, BUT BY ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS SELF-PORTRAITS AND A COUPLE OF HIS MOST ICONIC PAINTINGS.

THE PERFORMANCE WAS BASED ON AND REVOLVED AROUND A VIDEO ART INSTALLATION AND A NEON LIGHT SCULPTURE, CREATED AND PRODUCED BY MYSELF, WHICH SERVED AS A SCENOGRAPHY AND SOUNDTRACK.

THE VIDEO ART INSTALLATION TELLS THE FRANCIS BACON’S PERSONAL AND ARTISTIC LIGHT&DARK SIDES AND, IN THE MEAN TIME, IT EXPLORES ALL THE MANY WORKS OF ART (FROM ALL THE ART DISCIPLINES), INSPIRED BY BACON’S PAINTINGS, AND THE THOUGHTS AND THE OPINIONS OF THEIR CREATORS.

THE NEON LIGHT SCULPTURE “YELLOW&BLUE MAN”, AN ORIGINAL ARTWORK (PHYSICALLY REALIZED BY A LOCAL ARTISAN), PAYS TRIBUTE TO ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS BACON’S DRAWINGS.

VIEW SCULPTURE DETAILS

PRINCIPE MAURICE PLAYED A BACON’S SELF-PORTRAIT (TAKEN FROM THE MOST FAMOUS TRIPTYCH “THREE STUDIES FOR A SELF PORTRAIT” – 1979) AND HIS MONOLOGUE WAS DEVELOPED ON THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN WHAT BACON THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AND WHAT WAS PERCEIVED BY OTHERS.

THE TWO DANCERS REPRESENTED TWO OF BACON’S MOST FAMOUS PAINTINGS (“THREE STUDIES FOR FIGURES AT THE BASE OF A CRUCIFIXION” – 1944 & “THREE STUDIES OF LUCIEN FREUD” – 1969), GIVING THEM LIFE AND BRINGING THEM OUTSIDE THE FRAME INTO THE REAL WORLD.

ALL OF THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE TALENT OF THE ITALIAN RENOWNED BODY PAINTING ARTIST LELA PEREZ, WHO TRANSFORMED THE PERFORMERS INTO LIVING ARTWORKS.

Concept, script, direction, creative direction and production by Lino Franco (2016)