Bestiary 1978

Francesco Clemente made "Bestiary" out of watercolor, it’s a collection of these mythical meetings between people and animals. There’s a lightness to this piece, a sense of play. The figures are rendered in delicate washes, transparent and thin, making it feel like a dream, something on the verge of disappearing. Look at the way the bodies perch precariously on the animals – they’re vulnerable, exposed. Each creature is defined by subtle gradations and fine, almost tentative brushstrokes. The snake, for example, its body is a series of gentle curves, as it rises diagonally through the frame. The pale pink figure is in a freefall, echoing the animal's form, it reminds me of Japanese and Indian miniature painting, where the act of painting is a form of meditation. Clemente’s interest in collaboration and cross-cultural exchange, which is definitely a conversation that echoes across time. This piece is an embrace of ambiguity, where we’re invited to create our own stories and meanings.