Page 242 - Famous

FRANCESCO RUSPOLI

Lives and works in London, UK
w w w.francesco -ruspoli.com

My stylistic research started with a strong fascination for the
Surrealistic movement with Dali and de Chirico. But I needed
something else to express my true feelings. Therefore I have
discovered when I left France for England a new way with the
Scottish School of expressionism and Francis Bacon, Frank
Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, De Kooning, Kokoschka. This revelation
has been a decisive turn in my creativity from a figurative approach
I have slowly turned towards abstraction, still keeping a figurative
touch in my work. In fact I wanted to mix abstraction to figuration
and vice versa supported by a powerful use of colors. My visual
gesture is informal and spontaneous at the same time impulsive
and controlled. I would like to attache the constructive part
produced by the use of strong colors to the illusion of depth
which diminish the vision plane of a picture to create it’s own
autonomy. Then everything is just pure feelings and sensation,
which transmit to the viewer this indefinable accomplishment.
The constant movement of life and its challenges and more
especially our responses in order to survive it, have been a
lifelong source of intrigue for me. Growth is a continual struggle
and yet we are inspired to keep up with it and strive to get ahead
of the game. This concept of evolution is strongly represented in
my work. When I started painting, I found I was influenced by the
early childhood experiences of a strict religious and educational
background. My work was dark in subject, color and texture. As I
have matured, my art has expressed itself through several series,
ranging in subject matter drawn from urban life and social groups
to the powerful forces of nature. Vivid color and bold textures
have emerged into the many series of my work. Sweeping lines
and expressive gesturing, which reflects my own inner journey of
conquering my own demons has replaced earlier more restrictive
emotional expressions. For instance in this series I use crosses
of paint on the canvas in strong contrasting colors, which apart
from creating a joyous picture also emphasize my own spiritual
growth. This I feel reflects my own developing journey through
life and my response to the continual challenges with which I am
faced both as an artist and as a person.

 BY THE WATERFALL, 2003 OIL ON CANVAS 21X18 IN. /55X46 CM.
 BY THE RIVER, 2003 OIL ON CANVAS 22X17½ IN. /56X45 CM.
ACCORD (TAHITI), 2003 OIL ON CANVAS 60X40½ IN. /152X101 CM. 

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