Mark Lombardi


Mark Lombardi


Mark Lombardi - “World Finance Corporation and Associates, c. 1970-84: Miami, Ajman, and Bogota-Caracas (Brigada 2506: Cuban Anti-Castro Bay of Pigs Veteran) (7th Version),” 1999, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 69.125 x 84 inches 

“I call [these works] ‘narrative structures’ because each consists of a network of lines and notations which are meant to convey a story, typically about a recent event of interest to me, like the collapse of a large international bank, trading company, or investment house. One of my goals is to explore the interaction of political, social and economic forces in contemporary affairs. Thus far I have exhibited drawings on BCCI, Lincoln Savings, World Finance of Miami, the Vatican Bank, Silverado Savings, Castle Bank and Trust of the Bahamas, Nugan Hand Limited of Sydney, Australia, and many more.

Working from syndicated news items and other published accounts, I begin each drawing by compiling large amounts of information about a specific bank, financial group or set of individuals. After a careful review of the literature I then condense the essential points into an assortment of notations and other brief statements of fact, out of which an image begins to emerge.” (Mark Lombardi, artist statement)

“The global conglomerate World Finance Corporation… intrigued Lombardi more than any other bank scandal except BCCI. It became a cornerstone for his work undoubtedly because of the central role that WFC reputedly played in the trafficking of Columbian drugs and the subsequent laundering of the profits derived from those activities. An important subtext of this work and other Lombardi pieces such as Frank Nugan, Michael Hand, and Nugan Hand Ltd. of Sydney, Australia…and BCCI-ICIC & FAB…is the wide-ranging collusion involved in global crimes.” (Robert Hobbs, *Mark Lombardi: Global Networks*)

“World Finance Corporation and Associates, c. 1970-84: Miami, Ajman, and Bogota-Caracas (Brigada 2506: Cuban Anti-Castro Bay of Pigs Veteran) (7th Version),” 1999, Color pencil and graphite on paper, 69.125 x 84 inches

“I call [these works] ‘narrative structures’ because each consists of a network of lines and notations which are meant to convey a story, typically about a recent event of interest to me, like the collapse of a large international bank, trading company, or investment house. One of my goals is to explore the interaction of political, social and economic forces in contemporary affairs. Thus far I have exhibited drawings on BCCI, Lincoln Savings, World Finance of Miami, the Vatican Bank, Silverado Savings, Castle Bank and Trust of the Bahamas, Nugan Hand Limited of Sydney, Australia, and many more.

Working from syndicated news items and other published accounts, I begin each drawing by compiling large amounts of information about a specific bank, financial group or set of individuals. After a careful review of the literature I then condense the essential points into an assortment of notations and other brief statements of fact, out of which an image begins to emerge.” (Mark Lombardi, artist statement)

“The global conglomerate World Finance Corporation… intrigued Lombardi more than any other bank scandal except BCCI. It became a cornerstone for his work undoubtedly because of the central role that WFC reputedly played in the trafficking of Columbian drugs and the subsequent laundering of the profits derived from those activities. An important subtext of this work and other Lombardi pieces such as Frank Nugan, Michael Hand, and Nugan Hand Ltd. of Sydney, Australia…and BCCI-ICIC & FAB…is the wide-ranging collusion involved in global crimes.” (Robert Hobbs, *Mark Lombardi: Global Networks*)