LAUREN O'HARA FINE ART

ARTIST STATEMENT

My Art work is heavily based on my personal interests of historical events of the Second World War (1939-1945) and post-world war (1960’s/1970’s). This research into history has allowed me to create art work that reflects the vast differences and similarities between the two pivotal points in history and how many lives around the world were changed forever. These points in time change between the tragic event of the holocaust, including deeds of mass genocide amongst the Jewish religion by the Nazi’s and the new age of economy, technology, technicolour, free love and human rights within the post-World War Two generation.
I am a mixed media artist and I like to create artwork through many different areas including, Painting, Screen Print, collage, Installation/performance, Photography and Video work.
Previously my pieces of art were created aim to look at the meaning and emotion behind those who are depicted, exploring their story and the impact on loved ones who still deal with these horrific memories of times gone by. However, my new body of work has been the complete opposite, creating imagery that holds no narrative or meaning in representation of forgotten memories that were once so important and experienced/ captured through the eye of a lens. My aim throughout my art in any media is to make the viewer look twice. I don’t purposely set out to take each piece of research or photo and make it look very dramatic, emotional, creepy, political or morbid. When I recreate these images, I feel that unknowingly my own underlying emotions or lack of emotion towards the images and background stories from research effects my creativity and mood.
Personally, I believe that when an artist makes a lovely painting, for example (still life or realism), this does not necessarily mean that it is correct, and seen as the only way to approach painting when wanting to become a skilled artist. I believe that there is no right or wrong when it comes to art.