Beautiful Lies documents Teheran-born, New York-based artist Ali Banisadr’s 2021 show in Florence in honour of the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri. The “beautiful lies” beneath which truth is hidden is an expression used by Dante in describing his writing - and allegorical poetry in general - and it is perfectly suited to Banisadr’s work. His powerful brushwork and strong colours go below the surface of his personal reality, revealing violence and isolation, anguish and wonder, but also memories and imagination. For this show, which was split between two venues, he was commissioned to create an installation of site-specific paintings (also called Beautiful Lies). The text is by Sergio Risaliti, director of the Museo Novecento in Florence.

Sergio Risaliti is an art historian, curator, author, and journalist. He has curated shows on subjects ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary art and has published numerous monographs. He has been the Director of the Museo Novecento in Florence since 2017.