Chianciano Art Museum
Critical Analysis Artist: BĂŠatrice Cofield Art Critic: Karen Lappon
ICAC
International Confederation of Art Critics
Critical Analysis Artist: BĂŠatrice Cofield Art Critic: Karen Lappon
The Museum The Museum of Art of Chianciano hosts a series of collections ranging from Neolithic and Asiatic to Contemporary art. There are approximately a thousand works on display. Visitors are able to view paintings and sculptures by artists such as Tom Nash, Salvador Dali, Sir Henry Moore, Frances Turner, Mario Schifano, Damien Hirst, Brian Willsher and Albert Louden, drawings by the likes of Magritte, Guttuso and Munch; historical works from Royal Collections and original etchings by masters such as Dürer and Rembrandt. The museum is known for organising annual international events, including the Chianciano International Art Award and the Biennale of Chianciano.
Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) “Joachim and the Angel” Original woodcut, circa 1504
Sir Henry Moore (1898-1986) “Head” Bronze Sculpture
ICAC
International Confederation of Art Critics
The Critic Karen Lappon, born in Santander, Spain, is an Italian art critic and essay writer that operates in London, UK. Although an expert on the Italian Renaissance period, Lappon is also great admirer of contemporary art. Karen studied at the “I Liceo Artistico in Via Ripetta” and at the “La Sapienza” University in Rome. A book of great interest curated by Karen is the “2nd Millenium”, the publication of an important exhibition at the Lord Leighton Museum, in which the talent and art of the prominent painter, Frances Turner - selected 5 times in a row for the BP Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London - is highlighted. This artist has been spotted and appreciated by another great critic, Normal Searle, that wrote an article in the Evening Standard on one of Frances’ paintings. “Vita e Opere di Antonio Sbrana” is a publication in which Lappon ties the activity of Sbrana and his influences on the “Macchiaioli” of the 19th century, like Natali and Fattori. A publication that illustrates the continuity of this movement and how it is still present in Italy today. Besides being a consultant for the Chianciano Museum of Art, Karen Lappon is part of the Board that selects artists for the Biennale, a difficult task that she has undertaken since 2009, along with other curators, to choose 100 artists out of 2000 applicants that will be part of the Chianciano Biennale. Karen is part of the jury of the London Biennale where 120 artists, selected from 40 different countries participate, and has been chosen by the organisers to accompany the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea during the opening of the biennale.
“On the crest of the Unknown” mixed media by Béatrice Cofield
The Artist Beatrice Cofield was born in Gehée, in the Indre department in central France. In partnership with the Arts Dylexia Trust in the United Kingdom she pursued a research on an interaction between the visual arts and music, discovering that listening to music and focusing on the concept of rhythm opened new gates of perception, expression and skills, to all age groups. Beatrice strived to promote children’s art as a true value and founded the “Young Masters of Arts Painter” in order to gather the adult world around our youth talent. “During my childhood, I felt the power of the rhythms of nature and became aware that one visualises images on an inner screen which are, in fact, a precise symbolic code of our being, the fabric of all emotions weaved between our family and surrounding world. When striving to share the awareness of the images we feel and think with, I found that such focus unleashed spontaneity, well being, creativity for all.” Beatrice also dedicated herself in illustrating Thomas West research’s in this field. She received various international awards and congratulations for projects linking the visual arts and music (from her late Queen Mother and Ifrah Neaman,Violin Professor at the Guildhall School of Music in London). She exhibited at the London Biennale of contemporary art 2012-2014 and at the prestigious Chianciano Biennale 2015. Silver medal at the International Academy of Lutece and Diploma of honour (Paris).
“On the crest of my heart” mixed media by Béatrice Cofield
The Critique Beatrice Cofield is and exceptional figurative abstract painter with a unique sensitivity and creative spirit. She is strongly influenced by music, which is an indissoluble part of her pictorial impetus. Listening to music, or singing herself, inspire her to find the perfect connection between sound and painting. Having lived in many different countries, she absorbed various artistic influences. We find traces of German Expressionism in her works, her beautiful horses remind us of Franz Marc; other works remind us of Symbolist artists Redon and Czurlanis. But her most significant influence is certainly Edvard Munch. Like in Munch’s masterpiece “The Scream”, her lines and brushstrokes are sinuous, and denote frenetic energy and simmering passions. Emotive distortions and exaggerated colours are used to achieve the maximum expressiveness. The paint is applied with smooth, flexuous and forceful gestures that create movement with pure artistry and talent. Her colours are lively and vivid, the hues unblended and bright. All Beatrice’s childlike gaiety exudes from her canvases and transports the viewer into her cheerful, dreamlike world. Horses, unicorns, mermaids, nymphs, dancers, lovers, the essence of rhythm and of nature, are all subjects that capture our imagination and we participate in Beatrice’s eloquent and passionate communicative process with willingness and enthusiasm. As Dick Dale said: “Every song is like a painting” and in Beatrice’s case “every painting is like a song”. The harmonious and interdependent communion of these two sublime forms of art are embodied deeply in this greatly talented and eclectic artist.
Karen Lappon International Confederation of Art Critics
“On the crest of flames and waves” mixed media by Béatrice Cofield
“Rhythms of Life “ Mixed media by Béatrice Cofield
International Confederation of Art Critics www.international-confederation-art-critics.org