Lévy Gorvy Dayan will present Francesco Clemente’s Self-Portraits in the Bardo­—a significant series from his recent practice on view for the first time. In the eight vivid and visionary canvases on display, the artist fuses self-portraiture with an exploration of the imagery found in traditional Tibetan Buddhist representations of the bardo. The bardo is a central concept in Tibetan Buddhism, describing a liminal state of consciousness associated with the moment between death and rebirth. The awe-inspiring figures seen in Clemente’s paintings draw on the sacred peaceful and wrathful deities that inhabit this non-corporeal space—given life by Clemente in his vibrant compositions.

Self-Portraits in the Bardo marks the gallery’s third solo presentation of Clemente in London, and the first in the new space at the Empress Club, 35 Dover Street. The exhibition will be accompanied by an essay by
Sir Norman Rosenthal.