
Council of Nicaea Triptych, Left Panel, 2007 |
The art of Launa Bacon covers a lot of ground, traversing nearly every medium in her search for authenticity and validation of organic relationships. Spaces are compulsively arranged to represent contrived organic angles of stars, plants, and haphazard objects surrounding a prevalent doubt plaguing a subject in search of newness and expansion. There is a strong neoclassic influence, ironically represented for its "neo" tribute, but prescient for its own doubt in change as seen in the iconic Death of Marat, which Bacon replicates and references throughout many pieces.
The audience accompanies her through this journey, and becomes increasingly doubtful of the absoluteness of regeneration and growth. An infant symbolizes newness and authenticity, yet its relationship to its mother is questioned with veils and the distortion of water, which is revealed as a false signifier of renewal. One may not renew in the waters of the revolutionary Marat's bath, wherein he was murdered as he sought comfort from his ailments, and Bacon's replication of the bath and the distortion of water is present in many works as a challenge to the prescribed symbolism.
Stars and constellations are often represented in contrived spaces and in betrayal to their expansive symbolism, as seen in Bacon's collage of magazine diamond cutouts suspended in mirror-like ornamental frames; We must decide where to look for authenticity: from within, or from without.
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