Untitled

Francesco Clemente has focused on the human body, senses and fears as his primary subject. Settling in New York in 1981, Clemente is one of the most prominent Neo-Expressionist painters to emerge in the 1980s. Characterized by expressive brushstrokes and emotionally-charged symbolism, Neo-Expressionism can be seen in Clemente's frequent use of self-portraiture. As seen in this painting, it serves as a way to examine how identity is created through the perception of self. Here, the severed body parts seen in the whirlpool refer to fears of death and mutilation. These body fragments float in endless lines that form vortex-like circles within circles, a downward spiral that could symbolize the womb or a "black hole of the ego". The theme of the anxiety of human existence is one that has been a subject in art for centuries and links this work to artists such as Edvard Munch (Norwegian, 1863-1944) famous for his painting, The Scream, 1893. Although the image of floating limbs is dramatic, the sense of anxiety is realized through the vortex created by the luminous green paint.