UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology_SS 2025_FOR PRINT - Flipbook - Page 20
AESTHETE
CLEMENTE
Y
ou may recognize Francesco Clemente’s work from museums
with those I admire most, thus creating a space in which I am not only
and galleries around the country (and the world), or you
engaging with a community I value, but I am inviting readers in.
might recognize his paintings and drawings from Alfonso
Clemente divides his time between New York City, Italy, and India.
Cuarón’s 昀椀lm adaptation of Great Expectations, in which his work
There are non-linear leaps from series to series (he often uses the term
is presented as Finn’s (played by Ethan Hawke). Or his renowned
“constellation” rather than “series”) that exhibit a curiosity and sense
collaboration with Harper’s Bazaar where he captured a few of the
of play. It is the external conditions of each space he creates from that
fashion world’s greatest beauties, including Christy Turlington, not
dictate which medium he might use. He tells me, “In my New York
in photograph, but on canvas. Regardless, chances are good you are
studio, I can paint oversized oil paintings; in a garden in Rome, I can
already familiar with his work. In any medium, Clemente’s paintings
work on frescoes; in a hotel room in the middle of India, I can sit on
and drawings stand out, are undoubtedly his: recognizable by the
the 昀氀oor and make watercolors.” The one constant is that regardless
broad strokes, large and emotional eyes, and use of stark linework.
of where he is, he is creating work.
Originally from Naples, Clemente made a name for himself in Italy
As humans, we are fragmented. We are constantly divided between
before entering the New York City art scene in the 1980s. His work
multiple “selves” as we negotiate the various aspects of our work,
stood out in contrast to the popular conceptual and formalist art of
personal, and dream lives. We often rely upon our unreliable
the time, rethinking 昀椀gurative work and recon昀椀guring what 昀椀gurative
memories and incorporate various aspects of our dreams into our
work meant in the art world. His work was so exquisite and he was
waking lives (and memories). One of the resounding aspects of
so charismatic that his 昀椀gurative work could not be ignored. Could
Clemente’s work is a fragmented quality, where the face or body isn’t
a painting indeed capture the human condition for that time? And
quite exact, as if caught between two states. When I ask him about
could it have longevity? Time has given an enthusiastic yes to those
the fragmented nature of his work, and how he has spoken about how
questions.
fragmented humans are, he shares, “Painting is a way to transform
loneliness into aloneness. We are objects of our experience, the
His connection with Warhol, Basquiat, and others is widely
documented in articles and art history books, but his own longevity
objects of our lives, not the subjects. A painting has its own destiny
is quite extraordinary, and is perhaps thanks to his long-time wife,
way beyond our intentions. To acknowledge this is humbling, but
Alba, who he paints frequently, and his children. Too, his sense of
liberating, too.” If, as we discuss in the article on Deming’s book,
community and lineage is strong, and there are ample artists who have
loneliness is something we can lift from through creating, the idea
been inspired by his work and life to propel themselves into signi昀椀cant
that painting allows an artist such as Clemente “aloneness” as opposed
careers.
to “loneliness” is signi昀椀cant. To be alone can be transformative,
enjoyable, but loneliness is a state we all wish to remedy swiftly. Art,
When it comes to lineage and thinking about the friends he has made
as Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross showed us in Your Brain on Art,
and the contemporaries he has outlived, he says, “I enjoy growing
not only helps relieve loneliness and builds community, but it leads to
old but I wish everyone I met would stay the same as when I met
longevity and general well-being.
them. Painting is a dialogue with the dead and with the unborn; it is
a bridge between the two.” This type of dialogue is one many artists
And community is important to Clemente. A recent collaboration
feel the relevancy of when creating; Richard Deming’s This Exquisite
Clemente has undertaken is the Clemente Bar, owned by New York
Loneliness revolves around this concept, as do the articles I write for
culinary legend Daniel Humm. Clemente’s works hang throughout
this journal; my ability to connect with and provide a window into
the space, and, since bars have long been “third spaces” or “second
the work and lives of artists and other makers is one way I reach out
homes” for individuals and communities, the vitality his art adds to the
into the world, make sense of the world, and ensure I might dialogue
establishment is the key factor. When I ask Clemente if the intention
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