Bivaga (1972) - La Carezza dell’Istante

In La Carezza dell’Istante, Bivaga distills the encounter between presence and fragility into a moment of exquisite restraint. The figure, turned in profile, withdraws softly into her own interiority, her gaze lowered toward the delicate butterfly resting upon her hand. The gesture is light, almost imperceptible, as if any movement might dissolve the moment entirely.

The richness of her red garment unfolds in deep folds that contrast with the luminosity of her skin. Emerald jewels trace her neckline and fingers, introducing a quiet opulence that never overwhelms the intimacy of the scene. Light moves gently across her face and shoulder, revealing a calm that feels both deliberate and unguarded.

The butterfly becomes the silent axis of the composition. Ephemeral and weightless, it embodies a presence that cannot be possessed. The figure does not attempt to hold it. She simply allows it to rest, acknowledging the beauty of something that exists only for a fleeting instant.

In this suspended exchange, time softens. The painting speaks not of permanence, but of attention. To witness without grasping, to feel without retaining. Here, grace resides in the acceptance of transience.

⸻

About the artist:
Agatino Bivona, known artistically as Bivaga, was born in Biancavilla, Sicily, in 1972 and currently lives and works in Adrano. A pupil and close confidant of master Antonio Sciacca, Bivaga began his artistic journey at a young age and has spent over three decades refining his unmistakable visual language. His hyperrealistic portraits, rich in symbolism and emotional nuance, have been featured in major exhibitions in Italy and abroad. Celebrated in critical publications such as I Grandi Maestri (2009), and reviewed by prominent art critics like Nicola Villari and Alfredo Pasolino, Bivaga’s works are held in private collections across Europe, the United States, and Japan — carrying fragments of Sicilian elegance far beyond its borders.

—

Full catalogue on www.BivagaStudio.com
Instagram: @bivagastudio

Curated by Havisham & Co.
Instagram: @havishamco
Website: www.havishamco.com