Alien Vibrations, 2023 Pastel on mixed carpet inlay 72 x 38 x 3cm
Bea Bonafini is an interdisciplinary artist working between London and Barcelona. Her practice explores the cross-fertilisation of humanity with other ways of being, and the entanglement of painting with tapestry, ceramics and drawing. Her interest lies in the circularity of material and symbols, the resurrection of mythologies and their contemporary and personal reconfigurations, and the emotional landscape of colour. Her research is also grounded in unearthing Mediterranean mythologies and narratives of collaboration, hybridity and freedom of movement. Acting like transcendental openings, the works are full of swirling scenarios that are fragmented and multi-layered, optimistic and tender. Becoming protected spheres, the works are receptacles of a lost spirituality. Chthonic beings are resurrected, grief is embraced, new and unexpected combinations are celebrated. The vitality of eroticism is infused in entangled bodies, whose boundaries and identities fuse.
"ACTING LIKE TRANSCENDENTAL OPENINGS, THE WORKS ARE FULL OF SWIRLING SCENARIOS THAT ARE FRAGMENTED AND MULTI-LAYERED, OPTIMISTIC AND TENDER. BECOMING PROTECTED SPHERES, THE WORKS ARE RECEPTACLES OF A LOST SPIRITUALITY. CHTHONIC BEINGS ARE RESURRECTED, GRIEF IS EMBRACED, NEW AND UNEXPECTED COMBINATIONS ARE CELEBRATED. THE VITALITY OF EROTICISM IS INFUSED IN ENTANGLED BODIES, WHOSE BOUNDARIES AND IDENTITIES FUSE. THE VARIOUS LOGICS OF CROSS-FERTILISATION, CIRCULARITY AND REBIRTH ANIMATE BEA BONAFINI’S WORK AND ITS COLLABORATION WITH MATERIALS, SYMBOLS AND IDEAS AND ITS FUSING OF DISPARATE ARTISANAL AND SCULPTURAL METHODS".
[Excerpt from essay by Nick Hackworth]