23 december 2024, Yves Joris
The silent dialogue of Francesca Martí
In a time when nature’s call grows louder, but is often drowned out by humanity, there is a need for artists who can visualise this fragile balance. Francesca Martí is one such artist. Her work goes beyond aesthetics; it is a meditative exploration of the connection between humans and nature, a wordless conversation in which the symbolism of growth and decay takes centre stage. Within the framework of Nature’s Conversation, a group exhibition at Gallery Ysebaert in which she engages in artistic dialogue with Tomas Zemla and Koen Vanmechelen, Martí's vision becomes tangible: nature whispers, speaks and reflects — if only we are willing to listen.
Humanity as observer and participant
Francesca Martí's work is characterised by a subtle interplay between nature and humans. In the interview, she mentions the influence of her birthplace, Spanish Mallorca, where the rugged beauty of the landscape shaped her as a child. These images — of weathered rocks, aged leaves and effects of light and shadow — form the foundation of her artistic language. Yet it goes beyond merely observing nature. Humanity is not only a spectator in her universe, but also a participant. Her sculptures and photographic works feature (small) human figures, placed silently and often vulnerably within a monumental natural context.
The large organic decay of a tree leaf in her work becomes not only a metaphor for the transience of nature, but also for humanity itself. Martí reminds us that we are part of this cycle. It is not an accusation, but an invitation to introspection. “I want to take the viewer into a world in which time and scale fade,” she says. “Nature gives us clues, but we must be willing to look.” Within this lies a philosophical truth: we are no greater than nature, nor are we separate from it. By making the human figures small in comparison to the natural elements, Martí reverses the relationship. She confronts us with our insignificance and forces us to humility.
Francesca Martí, Dreamer Antares, 2024, Gallery Ysebaert
The power of transience
An important recurring motif in Martí's oeuvre is the theme of transience. Leaves, such as the monumental leaf in her photographic work, symbolise both life and decay. To Martí, the leaf that once grew, captured light and provided nourishment becomes a stage on which the past and future come together.
“The beauty of a withered leaf lies in the history it tells,” says the artist. That past is tangible in the veins, folds and cracks. But what makes her work so remarkable is the way she captures the beauty of this decay. Instead of melancholy, it radiates a serene strength. Nature, she seems to be telling us, reminds us of the constant transformation of life.
In this process of decay and rebirth, she places human figures — not as dominant elements, but as silent witnesses. They observe, wait or wander through the leaf as if it were a landscape. This sense of scale makes us wonder if we not just as fragile and subject to time as that single leaf. Martí’s works ask uncomfortable, but necessary questions about our existence and impact on the world.
Francesca Martí in her studio
Dialogue as essence
The title of the group exhibition, Nature’s Conversation, is particularly fitting for Francesca Martí’s work. Dialogue forms the essence of her practice: the dialogue between humanity and nature, but also between past and future, growth and decay. She uses a visual language that is universal and timeless, bridging the gap between cultures, generations and perspectives.
In the interview, Martí mentions a fascination with nature’s subtle signals. “It’s a conversation without words, but packed with meaning,” she says. This is not a romantic, idealised vision of nature, but an invitation to truly listen. How often do we walk carelessly past the veins of a leaf, the cracks of a rock or the rhythm of the waves? Martí reminds us that nature always speaks to us, if only we are willing to slow down and listen.
Her work is not merely a depiction of nature, but a translation of that silent conversation. The small human figures, almost lost within the organic forms, are no coincidence. They represent us — searching, waiting and listening.
Francesca Martí, Returning to green, 2024, Gallery Ysebaert
An invitation to reflection
What makes Martí’s work so powerful is her ability to make the small monumental and to distil the monumental back to its essence. The weathered leaf, seemingly a banal object, becomes in her hands a symbol of transience, beauty and connection. Her work challenges us to pause and reflect on our relationship with nature and ourselves.
Viewing her contribution to Nature’s Conversation, it becomes clear that her art is more than an aesthetic experience; it is a philosophical invitation. How do we move in a world that is constantly changing? How can we form a deeper connection with the nature that carries and nourishes us?
Her work provides no answers, but raises questions — questions we have ignored for too long. She calls on us to hear nature’s whispers again and to recognise our place within it. Not as rulers, but as participants. Not as outsiders, but as part of a greater whole.
Nature's Conversation, Gallery Ysebaert
Epilogue: a silent conversation
With her work, Francesca Martí has created a visual and philosophical statement that is as poetic as it is powerful. In Nature’s Conversation, she demonstrates that nature is not merely a backdrop to human presence, but an active conversational partner. Her work offers a quiet space to reflect, inviting the viewer to listen once again to what nature is telling us.
In the weathered leaf, the cracks in the ground and the small human figurines lies a universal message: we are part of this world, as fragile and transient as everything around us. Her art reminds us that beauty lies in the temporary and that we — like nature — can grow through connection.
“It is a conversation without words, but packed with meaning.”
