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Lauren Kolsum

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Blow

Blow, oil painting on masonite board
Blow, oil painting on masonite board


Statement

There are three characteristics of myself and my work which I will indefinitely aspire, independence, control, and power, all of which our culture undermines with the sexual objectification of women. This objectification, however, could be taken advantage of and thus controlled. The women in my paintings are armed, whether that be literally or figuratively, they have the means to overpower their situation. High heels are the epitome of sex; I like to associate them with such outlandish feats as climbing lavender mountains or struggling out of a gun barrel. The aggressive sexuality of some figures contrasts with the passive innocence of youth also apparent in this work. The centered youth represents innocence, taking in the world like a porous sponge with no filter. This scares me. Babies are susceptible to each and every social harm imaginable and it is the same corrupt culture which claims to take care of them. This baby represents a new life. Life is the light that continually competes with the darkness that death brings. Both are inevitable but the light shines stronger. I use high contrast to replicate the sense of light through a process of paint sculpting on a gesso prepped board. The beginning stages are tentative, careful, and uncertain but once the progress heightens, so does my confidence along with the power of the painting itself.