The Discerner Interview with Lara Julian
Celine Gaurier-Joubert : “ You have a very unique background , as you were born in Siberia , you have lived in New York for a few years , and you are now in London . Could you tell me a bit more about yourself ?”
Lara Julian : “ I have led an exciting life , traveling the world and immersing myself different cultures . Of course , I am a product of all my experiences and cultural origins ; however I don ’ t want my work to be read through this prescriptive lens . My work is autobiographical to the extent that it externalises my personal experience of the world , however this is never reflected though narrative or iconographical paintings . Rather , I employ an abstract visual language , which I believe has far more universal resonance amongst viewers .”
Celine Gaurier-Joubert : “ When did you paint for the first time , and what was your inspiration ?”
Lara Julian : “ My mother is an art historian and my father is an artist , so I grew up in a very creative family . I started painting at a young age , however art education in Siberia is very classical and my teachers didn ’ t appreciate my abstract approach to painting . I refused to conform to this traditional paradigm and so I stopped painting for many years .
It was actually when I was living in New York that this dormant creative passion was reignited . I had a high-powered job in banking ; however I needed a release from the world of numbers and logic , so I started meditating . It was during my meditation sessions that I started seeing vibrant swirls of colour and these visions eventually materialised in a series of paintings .”
Celine Gaurier-Joubert : “ Your work is truly stunning . What is your process of creation ?”
Lara Julian : “ Thank you ! My process of creation is very organic and spontaneous . I use acrylic paints as they are fast drying , which means I can add new layers quickly , but I never have a predetermined idea of how I want the painting to look . It ’ s all about texture and harmonies of colour , there isn ’ t a formula , rather every composition is a journey of discovery . I do tend to lay the canvas down on my studio floor and move around it while I paint . I use my whole body in the process of creation . It ’ s through this physical act of painting that I ’ m able to imbue each work with a raw sense of dynamism and ‘ visual vibrations ’, inviting the viewer into new realms of sensory experience .”
Celine Gaurier-Joubert : “ What are you looking for while painting ? How could you describe your style ?”
Lara Julian : “ I ’ m looking to express the breadth of human experience in my work . My style oscillates between figuration and abstraction .”
Celine Gaurier-Joubert : “ When I look at the work that you have produced over the years , I can clearly see an evolution . Could you tell me a bit more about the reasons behind the changes in your style ?”
Lara Julian : “ Each painting is a type of self-portrait that corresponds with the changes occurring in my body and mind . From a technical perspective , my work evolves as I mature as an artist and develop a deeper knowledge of materials , scale and style . In my earlier paintings , I worked on a smaller scale and the works were much more figurative , but I ’ ve always craved to work on a larger , more significant scale . I want my abstract canvases to envelop the viewer and catalyse a potentially transformational experience .”
Celine Gaurier-Joubert : “ You are still a young artist . What is your vision for the upcoming years ?”
Lara Julian : “ The script is still unwritten . I ’ m learning each day about kind of artist I want to be and drawing inspiration from a diverse range of sources . Right now , I see myself in a creative stage , but there ’ s artistic metamorphosis on the horizon . Watch this space .”
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