Artist Statement
For over a decade now I have been painting women: women who smile, women who frown, women who pout, women who ponder. I was often influenced by such masters as Boticelli, Modigliani, Gauguin and Picasso.
In the beginning of 2006 my work began to change and evolve. I used more materials, started to pour paint, added assemblage, and increasing amounts of text, written or collaged onto my canvases. With the text, it seemed as if these women were beginning to tell their stories instead of plain existing.
A year later and following 6 months of increased dedication to my own artistic and creative exploration, my work is evolving yet again. I am now focused on recycling old canvases – paintings that I or someone else no longer needs or wants. I have also resorted to using a variety of wood panels that have been discarded at the local home improvement store, or even found items such as an empty Marlboro box can be a canvas for me. I am now obsessed with this idea – why buy new canvases when there is a plethora of stuff out there to work on that others would rather throw away? Someone else’s trash has slowly but surely become my land of treasure. Recycling has such a powerful presence in so many areas of my life, I decided to apply that philosophy to my artwork as well. It just makes sense for me.
After viewing the diary of Frida Kahlo and most recently the raw and biting work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, I have found a stronger calling for my work to go further into what these feminine figures are all about. Why do they exist as they do, what are they influenced by, what is their function, why do they keep rolling out onto my canvases? And most recently – why all the new subject matter of women cut and pasted from 30 years worth of porno magazines? These women seem so exposed to me, and at times used, objectified, desired, disrespected, yet coveted. I am so drawn to them. They call to me to be included in my work in some way, even if completely obliterated after they have been painstakingly cut out and glued onto the canvases. There is also a new presence of red-faced wide-eyed figures, stylized green trees and the #35.
I am gradually coming to understand that ultimately these recent works serve as self-portraits of me of women that are close to me in my life. They are accompanying me on my journey of change and exploration I am experiencing in my life; change that seems inevitable for me at the age of 35. The red faces represent a certain anxiety I am trying to resolve around where I am going with my life and if it is the artist life I choose, how to face the apprehension of entering this competitive and ever-changing culture. The trees have a meditative and grounding purpose for me. I once did a series of watercolor trees, which included text and certain words when spoken bring me a sense of calm meditation when I am uneasy.
I am certain my work, like that of most artists will continue to change and develop, especially in this time of my life. I can only wonder what it all will evolve into next. You can visit me online at http://www.lauriemavesart.com
