S-Bahn Fahren
2025
oil on stitched canvas and found fabrics
98 x 114 cm
This mixed-media work, "S-Bahn Fahren," originated from a fleeting moment observed on an ÖBB train in Vienna. Two individuals on their daily commute—each carrying an air of ease and quiet self-possession. As chaotic and stimulating as public transport can be, this corner of the carriage felt unexpectedly peaceful. It was as if I had entered a shared moment of silent contemplation with them.
Leaning against his bicycle, the man in the blue scarf embodies a familiar image of contemporary urban Europe. Across from him sits a woman wearing a hijab, resting with her shopping bags after what appears to have been a grocery trip. Together, they present a simple yet resonant portrait of Europe today. The work is not overtly political. Instead, it reflects a quiet coexistence that speaks to the values of openness, diversity, and mutual presence that the European Union continues to aspire to. Its strength lies in its honesty; the scene was neither staged nor constructed, but encountered.
Public transportation is a recurring subject in Francesca's practice because it is where the life of a city unfolds. The bus, tram, or train becomes a space where strangers briefly share time and space, revealing small, unguarded moments of everyday life. The work explores the paradox of urban coexistence: people are physically connected through shared public infrastructure and common spaces, yet emotionally and socially distant. Through its stitched textile construction and layered composition, the artwork suggests that solidarity is not a finished condition but something continuously assembled, negotiated, and repaired—much like the social fabric of Europe itself.