Topics touched: Covid, The war in Ukraine, Blue whale, Iranian women, Shipwrecks, Spirituality, The moments of introspection we go through to be reborn.

The silence of words…to give voice to painting! But also the lack of words in the face of the many tragic events that strike us…

Despite the strong impact of bright colors, the themes addressed in this exhibition in the welcoming setting of the Concept River Art Gallery in Pisa, reflect our current difficult time.

Starting from the period of lockdowns to counter the Coronavirus, I was struck by the frequent massacres of shipwrecked people in the Mediterranean, the terrible challenges that teenagers get tempted by through online games, the fire started in 2018 on Monte Serra, near us, which has destroyed vegetation and many animals, the devastating conflict in Ukraine which has been going on for more than a year and obviously the inhumane violence against women in Iran.

To lighten the exhibition there is also a glimmer of hope through the theme of spirituality which helps us to stay afloat in the midst of life’s turmoil and the pauses for inner reflection which allow us to be reborn stronger by developing creative energy: for us and for others.

Vanessa Thyes, 2023