Laura Pels Ferra’s practice and research as an artist is an exploration of the human condition, increasingly with an environmental focus. Her work includes painting, drawing and installation, that currently reflect her preoccupation with climate change and the condition of the natural world.
Laura often works on paper and embraces a multidisciplinary approach, fluidly moving between a variety of mediums and techniques to give voice to her vision. She frequently works with gouache paint, for its simplicity and ability to achieve full opacity, and strong expressive colours.
Her earlier work emerged as abstracted compositions, often crafted from fragmented elements borrowed from diverse imagery. Within these compositions, she explored the boundaries of perception and representation, inviting viewers to interpret and engage with the amalgamation of shapes and contrasting colours.
Laura’s practice has explored the liminal point between form and void, and between personal experience and creative expression. Repetition and labour emerge within this work as profound avenues for exploration and expression of rhythm, pattern, variation, and a sense of ritualistic motion. A compelling interplay of pattern and line is invoked in her work where each element weaves its own narrative within a larger tapestry. At times, they harmonise seamlessly, merging into a singular organism full of life and energy. At other moments they appear as distinct entities, engaged in a silent struggle for dominance, each claiming its own territory on the paper. Through this dynamic interplay, Laura invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of existence and the ever-shifting dynamics of the human experience, by reflecting and immersing themselves in the beauty of the ordinary. While the inspiration behind her stylised motifs may not always be immediately evident, they are deeply rooted in her life and environment, which lies at the heart of her work.
Laura’s current artistic exploration includes her consideration of ecological and environmental issues around landscape, water, the botanical world, and waste, serving as a pathway for exploring themes of social change, personal wellbeing, and scientific inquiry. Through her meticulous process of observation and drawing, she delves into the intricate relationships between organisms and their environments, including the interactions between living organisms and their physical surroundings. Through her art, Laura not only deepens her own understanding of the natural world but also shares her discoveries with others, fostering a sense of curiosity, appreciation about the interconnectedness of life, and for the beauty that surrounds us.
The concept of repetition and collecting intersects with the theme of waste in intriguing ways, offering a fertile ground for exploration and commentary. Through the act of collecting discarded or overlooked materials, Laura seeks to breathe new life into objects that might otherwise be destined for oblivion, transforming them into vessels of creativity and meaning. By repurposing waste materials, she not only seeks to challenge conventional notions of value and utility but also engage in a dialogue about consumption, excess, and environmental stewardship, prompting viewers to reconsider their relationship with waste and to contemplate the potential for beauty and redemption in the seemingly mundane. Waste becomes not only a testament to the power of creativity but also a call to action, urging us to reimagine our consumer culture and embrace more sustainable ways of living and creating.
Laura had her first solo exhibition in Lisbon in 2002 at Galeria ArtFit-Nuno Cardoso. Her most recent exhibition was ‘Coletiva 2023/2024’ at Galeria Fonseca Macedo, Azores, Portugal. She has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions.
Laura was born in Amsterdam in 1977 and completed her MA Fine Art in 2001 following a BA (Hons) in Painting at independent art school Ar.Co Centro de Arte e Comunicação Visual, Lisbon, Portugal. She lives and works in Fife, Scotland.
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