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For twenty years Gregorio Luke has lectured for the Florence Biennale. His presentations are tailored for contemporary artists. Gregorio always asks: How can this lecture be useful to an artist today? He has presented thousands of lectures throughout the U.S., Mexico, Europe, China and South America. Elena Poniatowska Mexico’s most important living author affirms: “Gregorio Luke gives the most extraordinary lectures that can be seen on Earth” For Agustín Gurza of the LA Times: “ Gregorio Luke speaks as if he’s seen a vision. His listeners can’t help but to see it too.”

Exploring the theme of this year’s Florence Biennale: Light and darkness. Concepts of Dualism and Unity. Gregorio Luke will present lectures on Rembrandt the chiaroscuro master and Siqueiros, who was a revolutionary in life and an innovator in art.

• Rembrandt — Wednesday 22th October, 18.00

Light and darkness are the very essence of Rembrandt art. With these elements, he captured like no other artist the human expression. At first he was admired for the truthfulness and honesty of his paintings. Unfortunately, as society became richer, tastes changed. Now his patrons expected to be flattered and "beautified" in their portraits, but Rembrandt insisted on painting reality as he saw it. Because of his uncompromising honesty, Rembrandt was abandoned by his patrons and forced to declare bankruptcy and sell his house and art collections. He ended with nothing, so poor, he had to sell the tomb of his beloved wife Saskia to survive. As a last humiliation, his masterpiece The Conspiracy of the Batavians, was rejected. He had to cut it into small pieces to sell. Gregorio Luke will delve into the world of this tragic genius, shedding light on his tumultuous life and his magnificent art.

• Siqueiros — Saturday 25th October, 17.00

David Alfaro Siqueiros is also a master of duality. He was a soldier and an artist. He fought in the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish Civil War and painted powerful murals. He was a dogmatic Stalinist, who tried to assassinate Leon Trotsky, and at the same time an innovative artist, who pioneered new materials, photography in art and a dramatic use perspective. Inspired by Italian futurists, his paintings appear to move as we move in front of them or seem to come out of their frames and reach us. Siqueiros was imprisoned and exiled for his political ideals, but he is also a major influence in contemporary art, from Abstract Expressionism, to Pop and Chicano art. Because of his controversial politics, Siqueiros has never received the recognition he deserves. This lecture by Gregorio Luke will shed light on the many things young artists today can learn from Siqueiros.

- Lecture on Rembrandt: Wednesday 22th October, 18:00

- Lecture on Siqueiros: Saturday 25th October, 17:00

- Theatre Area- Spadolini Pavilion, Fortezza da Basso, Firenze