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I believe the way we look at visual arts has the potential to change our ideas about history and society, so this is my approach.
To quote the great Toni Morrison: "All good art is political. If it's not political, chances are that it's not that good."
Welcome to my blog (and thanks for reading).
Francesca
Beyond the Canvas
An art blog with opinions


Peter Hujar "Eyes Open in the Dark" at Raven Row, London
“My work comes out of my life. The people I photograph are not freaks or curiosities to me. I like people who dare.” - Peter Hujar...
Beyond the Canvas
Mar 211 min read
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Tesfaye Urgessa, Palazzo Bollani - Venice Biennale
‘M y aim was to create a group of figures engaged in unknown activities, intentionally leaving the situation ambiguous to the viewer. I...
Beyond the Canvas
Oct 20, 20242 min read
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Judy Chicago's "Revelations" at the Serpentine Gallery, London
"If men had babies, there would be thousands of images of the crowning.” - Judy Chicago Today is Judy Chicago's 85th birthday, and this...
Beyond the Canvas
Jul 20, 20242 min read
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Francis Alÿs's "Richochets" at London's Barbican
The "Ricochets" exhibition at the Barbican, showcasing the work of Francis Alÿs, will take you on an emotionally powerful journey that...
Beyond the Canvas
Jul 11, 20242 min read
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Italy's 78th Republic Day
Today the Italian Republic turns 78. On June 2nd, 1946 a whopping 90% of the electorate flocked to the polls to decide between the...
Beyond the Canvas
Jun 2, 20241 min read
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The National Gallery turns 200
Fourteen years before moving to the iconic Trafalgar Square location, the National Gallery opened its doors to the public on 10th May...
Beyond the Canvas
May 11, 20242 min read
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Italy's 79th Liberation Day anniversary
While Italians get ready to enjoy their 79th year of peace and freedom, somewhere not too far from us the winds of war are howling. April...
Beyond the Canvas
Apr 25, 20241 min read
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In Memoriam: Faith Ringgold 1930-2024
“The stigma attached to having been in jail for a woman is a very threatening one because of the idea of how dare her not be a good wife...
Beyond the Canvas
Apr 15, 20241 min read
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In memory of Richard Serra (1938-2024)
"When you look at my works, you don't remember an object. There remains an experience, a passage." - Richard Serra Serra revolutionized...
Beyond the Canvas
Mar 27, 20241 min read
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My top 12 exhibitions of 2023
This year I saw a lot of beautiful, inspiring, thought-provoking, memorable, urgent and necessary art. This list is in chronological...
Beyond the Canvas
Dec 30, 20231 min read
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Philip Guston at Tate Modern, London
The tondo - from the Italian word for round, rotondo - is a circular painting or sculpture that became popular during the Italian...
Beyond the Canvas
Dec 4, 20231 min read
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On World AIDS Day
New York City-born Frank Moore (1953-2002) was a visual artist and an activist who was involved in the creation of the Red Ribbon, which...
Beyond the Canvas
Dec 1, 20231 min read
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Irreconcilable truce
"The Keffieh is full of poetic and political symbolism. The fishnet pattern is a symbol of collectivism and is often interpreted as the...
Beyond the Canvas
Nov 29, 20231 min read
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The cost of "five small pieces of paper".
"The Russian army has bombed an art school in Mariupol where 400 people were seeking shelter from a fire." This is one of the 5 stickers...
Beyond the Canvas
Nov 26, 20232 min read
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The unspeakable tragedy of Ukraine's stolen children
It's been 634 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children have been abducted and deported...
Beyond the Canvas
Nov 20, 20231 min read
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Who poses a bigger threat to society?
Catching up on the news from my 2nd hometown of London, I feel compelled to go off on a rant. It appears that the people threatening the...
Beyond the Canvas
Nov 11, 20231 min read
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Maestras at National Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
It was 1976 when the first international exhibition by female artists took place. Curated by Ann Sutherland Harris and Linda Nochlin of...
Beyond the Canvas
Nov 5, 20231 min read
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Palestinian artists: Laila Shawa (1940 - 2022)
Born to a wealthy Gaza family, Laila Shawa studied art in Cairo and in Rome. In the early 1960s, she traveled to Salzburg to study with...
Beyond the Canvas
Nov 2, 20231 min read
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'Epic Waste of Love and Understanding' - Ragnar Kjartansson at Louisiana Museum
This is the first time that I write my thoughts about an exhibition and have no photos or videos to share. And that's because, believe it...
Beyond the Canvas
Oct 7, 20231 min read
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Ron Mueck at Fondation Cartier, Paris
“I never made life-size figures because it never seemed to be interesting. We meet life-size people every day.” - Ron Mueck Mueck's work...
Beyond the Canvas
Sep 10, 20231 min read
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