Andrea Pagnes’ (VestAndPage) response to Franko B’s ‘Because of Love’

LADA are pleased to make two texts by Andrea Pagnes (VestAndPage) exclusively available.

Reading, Because of Love, is a brilliant response to Franko B’s memoir Because of Love, and After reading Because of Love continues Andrea’s encounter with the text through an open letter to Franko B, to which Franko has responded.

Because of Love is edited by Lois Keidan and Megan Vaughan, with a preface by Tim Etchells, designed by David Caines, illustrated by Giuditta Fullone, and published by Live Art Development Agency, 2018.

Download the full text
A portrait of Franko lying on a sofa. Franko B, by Hugo Glendinning
Page after page, Franko recalls what it means to survive and learn to live, because of love. His words frame fragments of the beauty of his violated landscapes ... With this book, Franko offers us his direct testimony of how vital is for an artist to draw inspiration from the hardest life struggles and transform them into a magmatic material to create thought-provoking, genuine art where the personal becomes universal.

Andrea Pagnes

Andrea Pagnes is a performance artist, writer and curator of the Venice International Performance Art Week. Since 2006 he has collaborated with Verena Stenke as VestAndPage. VestAndPage’s practice is process-led and conceived psycho-geographically in response to architecture, natural surroundings or historical sites. Titles by Andrea Pagnes are available to buy on Unbound.

Franko B

Franko B is an extraordinary, internationally acclaimed artist who has been making drawings, installations, sculptures, and performances for over 30 years. Because of Love tells the story of his childhood in Italy in an orphanage and at the hands of his abusive family, his journey to London as a young man, his return to Italy many years later as an accomplished artist, and, in between, the story of his life and loves and his becoming an artist.

Banner image credit:

Because of Love: Franko B's Story, Franko B, published by the Live Art Development Agency, 2018.

Latest news

LADA re-enters ACE’s National Portfolio

16 October 2023

The Live Art Development Agency is delighted to announce that we have re-entered Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.

Read more

A statement from LADA’s Interim Artistic Director, Ria Righteous

16 October 2023

Interim Director, Ria Righteous, provides a statement on the her current position with LADA and aims for the organisation’s future.

Read more

Announcing The New Board of The Live Art Development Agency

11 September 2023

With the help and support of LADA patrons, the former board of directors has now been replaced by a completely new board as of July 2023.

Read more

Temporary closure of the Study Room throughout August

9 August 2023

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this closure may cause throughout the month of August.

Read more

LADA announces second Black Artist in Residence

20 July 2023

Live Art Development Agency is pleased to announce Malik Nashad Sharpe as our second Black Scholars Residency artist.

Read more

LADA announces first Black Artist in Residence

5 July 2023

Live Art Development Agency is pleased to announce Madinah Farhannah Thompson as our first Black Scholars Residency artist.

Read more

LADA welcomes new Interim Artist Development Manager, Tania Camara

7 June 2023

LADA welcomes Tania Camara as new Interim Artist Development Manager.

Read more