08.12.2022 - 07.01.2023

Galerija "Māksla XO"

Elizabetes iela 14, Rīga, LV 1010

FRANCESKA KIRKE

Deconstruction of Beauty

“The world she has created as a visual paradigm is full of sad forebodings, veiled secrets, fantastic transformations, lost passions and [...] carnival tenderness, forgiveness, quiet nostalgia and longing for love too,” Ivars Runkovskis.

Franceska Kirke’s exhibitions during the recent years have been permeated with fragility and sense of threat - both to human lives and works of art. The work of art and the concept of time - creation and destruction. At a time when the devastation caused by art vandalism and war has broken out in the world, in her latest exhibition “Deconstruction of Beauty”, Franceska Kirke with great reverence turns to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna Litta”, from the collection of State Hermitage Museum (Saint Petersburg, Russia), drawing parallels between the fragile theme of mother and child and the events in Ukraine.

“My exhibition opens shortly before Christmas. Mary and child are not safe in Ukraine this winter... many Marys and childrens...” Franceska Kirke.

Franceska Kirke (1953) graduated from the Painting Department of the Art Academy of Latvia (1978) and prof. Eduards Kalnins Master's workshop (1987). The most notable recent exhibitions - “Trauslums/Fragile” (2019, Riga Bourse Art Museum, Riga, Latvia), “Without fetish” (2019, Rūmene manor, Kandava, Latvia), “Somebody” (2017, Maksla XO Gallery, Riga, Latvia). Franceska Kirke's works are included in public collections: Latvian National Art Museum and Artists’ Union of Latvia Museum (Riga, Latvia), Ludwig Museum (Cologne, Germany), State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow, Russia), Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey , USA).

* The ultramarine blue color of Madonna’s coat symbolizes purity and innocence, as well as royal origins. Red - the blood of Christ and sacrifice.

More:
https://ltv.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/08.12.2022-franceskas-kirkes-skaistuma-dekonstrukcija.id279891