AIMI KAIYA art

XV Florence Biennale (18–26 October 2025, Fortezza da Basso) – THE SUBLIME ESSENCE OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS: Concepts of Dualism and Unity in Contemporary Art and Design. Advertising page in exibart 128 (April–September 2025 issue)

exibart

✨ 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐗𝐕 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞

As part of the special programme of the XV Florence Biennale (18-26 October), Gregorio Luke, an expert on Mexican and Latin American art and culture, has tailored two lectures for contemporary artists, focusing on Rembrandt, the chiaroscuro master, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, a revolutionary in life and an innovator in art.

For twenty years Gregorio Luke has lectured for the Florence Biennale. Gregorio always asks: How can this lecture be useful to an artist today? He has given over 1,000 lectures throughout the U.S., Mexico, Europe, China and South America, speaking at prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the San Diego Art Museum, the Detroit Institute of Art, and universities such as Harvard, Columbia, among others.

- 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘁 (𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟮 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬)
Light and darkness are the very essence of Rembrandt’s art. With these elements, he captured like no other artist the human expression. At first, he was admired for the truthfulness and honesty of his paintings. Unfortunately, as society became richer, tastes changed. During the lecture, Gregorio will delve into the world of this tragic genius, shedding light on his tumultuous life and his magnificent art.

- 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗼𝘀 (𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝟭𝟳:𝟯𝟬)
David Alfaro Siqueiros is a master of duality. He was imprisoned and exiled for his political ideals, but he is also a major influence in contemporary art, from Abstract Expressionism to Pop and Chicano art. Because of his controversial politics, Siqueiros has never received the recognition he deserves. This lecture by Gregorio Luke will shed light on the many things young artists today can learn from Siqueiros.



📍Lecture on Rembrandt: Wednesday 22nd October, 18:00
📍Lecture on Siqueiros: Saturday 25th October, 17:30
📍Theatre Area—Spadolini Pavilion, Fortezza da Basso
📍Details are available on the Calendar page of the Florence Biennale website

The Night of Repentance
At the Holy Wedding

Bride and groom step into the sanctuary,
a symphony resounds, seraphim sing praises,
angels soar above the raining flowers,
and sacred beauty clothes the ceremony.

Amidst the crowd, a man stands still, an old friend.
His eyes are heavy with the shadow of emptiness.
He once traded flesh to soothe his aching soul,
fled into fire, chasing lust’s illusion,
but found only thirst without end,
and silent wounds etched deep in spirit.

As the music swells in heavenly harmony,
he beholds the bride, pure as crystal flame,
he beholds the groom, steadfast as holy stone,
and between their hearts he sees it shine:
a covenant woven in heaven’s light,
a love not of possession,
but of surrender, sealed in truth.

Tears overflow his weary eyes,
for he has seen at last
what he sought was never fleeting pleasure,
but the sacred love God Himself ordains,
a bond eternal in the gift of marriage.

And in that hallowed night of heaven’s song,
the wandering soul was called home again.
He fell to his knees in silence,
and from his heart rose but one prayer:

O Lord, I yield, I return,
to love made holy,
and faithfulness to You forevermore.

AIMI KAIYA

Cr.Photo : Fair Lady By Edmund Blair Leighton 1914

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_Blair_Leighton_-_My_fair_Lady.jpg