Léah
BLISS (April 2019).
Photograph
59x 33 cm
BLISS is a photograph made using Photoshop where I overlayed an image several times as I wanted the specific repeating pattern. I was still looking at the idea of reflections and infinity but this time playing with bright colors and outstanding patterns as my work is normally not colourful. This was influenced by Olafur Eliasson.
Don’t Look at me (March 2019).
Mirrors, plywood, acrylic paint, photograph
19 x 18 x 18 cm
The intention in creating this piece was to represent the idea of self image. The portrait reflecting in the broken mirrors create the effect of infinity and show the idea of the broken image that you have of yourself. The colour scheme and shape are very simple to make the mirrors and photograph stand out. I was mostly inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s work when creating this piece. I wanted to create my own little space where a lot could be expressed and could make the viewer think.
Notice Me (January 2019).
Etching
25 x 30 cm
The purpose of this hatching was to represent the life of a narcissist but how in the end being this way makes everything fall apart, the topic was expressed through someone’s face reflected in broken mirrors. I was inspired by a photograph that already existed. Notice me is the first piece from my mirror series, this is where I began to be interested in the idea of infinity and reflections through mirrors.
The Eye of The Storm (January, 2020).
Mirror installation
200x 200x 150cm
I decided to create a more personal piece, where the only person who could experience it is myself and where I could be the true me far from the outside world. My experience was shared through a controlled, photographic image. The mirrors are displayed as grids representing order and structure seen as the expectations from the outside world contrasted by broken mirrors representing the reality of life and the frustration we have from being criticized especially by social media.
1932 (December 2018)
Ceramic
15 x 8 x 6cm
My intention in creating this sculpture was to merge nature with the human body. I was inspired by Giuseppe Penone and Ah Xian who both worked with similar subjects as mine by liking nature and bodies. The effect I wanted to give was that the tree is growing onto the body as a part of it. The wrapping around of the branches reminds me of experiences that build up throughout your life. In 1932, the human body was neutral and soft as opposed to the roughness of the tree.
Smiling into your eyes (June 2019).
Ceramics, acrylic paint and mirror
55 x 10cm
This sculpture is the final one for this year therefore I decided to link all of my pieces into one. The two main elements in my work this year were the body and mirrors to express infinity; this is why Smiling into your eyes fits perfectly into my theme. Smiling into your eyes means that when you see your reflection through the body you should smile as if it was yours and be proud of it.
Bodies (October 2018).
Graphite and pencil
61 x 49 cm
My intention was to translate on paper the interesting shapes of trees and branches in nature as they remind me of the interaction between human bodies. I was influenced by Mondrian’s work with trees, he made a series of paintings that led him to stylize them so that they became geometrical. While drawing this piece I focused on reinforcing the textures of the trunk and branches in order to make them look realistic. I first took a picture of these trees and then made it into a drawing.
Twenty Seven (September, 2019).
Photograph Series
42x 60cm
These two photographs were taken of a water bottle, they were then manipulated on Photoshop to enhance colours, contrast, lights and shades. I wanted the colour blue to stand out as it is water. The water is a representation of depth and infinity. I chose to do a series of the two similar photos as it makes my two themes stand out (depth and infinity).
Water Infinity (November, 2019)
Transparency paper collage on glass panel
130 x 80 cm
Water Infinity is a collage of photographs of the water bottle Twenty Seven which I printed on transparency paper and then displayed onto a blue glass panel found in the street. I first photoshopped the photograph into sections so that it would fit the panel. For this piece, I wanted to work with layering and transparency as it enhanced the shape, shadows and lights of the water bottle. I was very inspired by David Hockney’s swimming pools.
MAY (March, 2020)
Acrylic on transparency paper
70 x 95 cm
Having worked with transparency with Water Infinity, I decided I wanted to work with the same medium using a different technique, here being acrylic. I painted an undone body with visible brushstrokes so we could see through it thanks to the transparency paper. The body was inspired by a photo of a model however this piece was made to represent my elder sister.
Mixed Feelings (February 2019).
Photograph
55 x 41 cm
Mixed Feelings is a series of two photos I took at the airport while I was going on holiday. These photos play with colours and contrasts but mostly what I found interesting about them was the idea of infinity shown with the repeating straight lines and the fact that we can see the sky through the coloured windows. James Turrell’s use of colour within architecture inspired me.
