La Palma — 2008
Contrasts naturally form part of a greater whole.
This struck me once again when I looked delved into the biographies of the American artist (singer) Madonna (USA) and St Francis of Assisi (Umbria, Italy).
Despite the centuries that separate these personalities, their names are iconic.
What probably made Madonna famous?
Her talent for staging and performance; the show, her voice, her dancing and her brilliant self-marketing. Her current fortune is estimated at $80.5 million.
Francis, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, renounced both his considerable inheritance and a life of luxury, and lived, after one or two inner experiences, lived mostly in the open air (in today’s terms, like a homeless person). He recognised ‘the Father in Heaven’ as his only authority. He loved the sun, plants and animals – especially birds. His great life motto was: ‘to serve all’. His hymns of praise have survived to this day.
One sang in front of millions of people around the world.
The other sang, and his audience was mostly the birds of the fields.
So …
what more is there to say?
Two opposites forming part of a greater whole – each with a distinctive biography, which only get touched upon superficially in books …
It provoked me into uniting both portraits.
And resulted in the series: Franz & Madonna.
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