-
- Lauren Connors
Lauren
Connors
Seen and Unseen
Lauren Connors work examines the increasing rates of travel, tourism, and consumerism in modern society. The experience of visiting the island of Gran Canaria in 2014 left a lasting impression on Connors. The artworks open-up a discourse surrounding the social difficulties experienced by popular tourist destinations. These issues have been generated by the demand for extravagance and luxury. Her use of sand derived from a wide range of origins provides reference to the increase in transportation of goods, and consumerism. The work additionally seeks to provoke the sense of disorientation and hallucination experienced through travel. The sensation of relaxation, as time slows down, in addition to the haziness of over-whelmed senses are explored through the medium of paint. The body is transported into the exotic, where it struggles to adapt to the continuous shift between the air-conditioned indoors, and the blistering heat of the outdoors. A state of alienation is embodied as the major changes in atmospheric conditions are experienced. The unfamiliar sights, smells, sounds, and tastes experienced through travel further influence the series of works.