Francesco Clemente "A History of the Heart in Three Rainbows 3.1" 2009
I finally got to the Clemente show that's up at Deitch right now, and it is a dream. Called "A History of the Heart in Three Rainbows" it consists of three absolutely giant scrolls which are each cut up into smaller paintings, like the one above. Each scroll is a rainbow-colored allegory about love, identity, entrapment, and liberation. In fact, it reminds me a lot of such metamorphic paradigms as Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, and the stages of transmutation in alchemy. Also, the experience of being surrounded by these giant paintings (allegedly the largest watercolors ever made), is transformative as well. I hope some institution buys them all, and puts them in their own special room a la Monet's "Water Lilies." Until then, this show will be up until May 30th, so you've still got a bit of time to visit.
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