IB VISUAL ARTS 2022
lara myles
My main aim with my exhibition is to create a timeline displaying both mine and other people’s views of my late grandmother. I wanted to be able to create artworks that were raw and aesthetic but also displayed the difficulties of the human experience in general. So that the works were something that were intimate to me (as the artist) but also give viewers insight into a life to connect to. Ultimately my goal was to display the gigantic impact my grandmother had on me without her knowledge. My Grandma grew up a small town on the isle of Jersey, with her brother. Her mother left her and my great uncle when they were very young so she spent most of her young life being cared for by extended family. By the time she was a teenager World War II had begun so a lot of her time was dedicated to helping the injured soldiers seeking refuge on the island. In her early 20’s Denise (my grandmother) met Syd (my grandfather) when he was on a family holiday from the UK. They met in a nightclub and immediately fell for one another. After this they spent a year or two writing letters to one another, until my Grandma decided to move over to England to be with him, where they began a family.
I aimed with my exhibition to display many aspects of my grandma’s life. I specifically focused upon family as that was very important to her. I attempted to make use of specific memories of her from my childhood, including places she enjoyed visiting and the specific details I could remember. My favourite artform was painting (especially oil paints) as I enjoyed the variance you can achieve with multiple mediums.
When I first began these works I was heavily influenced by Renaissance artists, and wanted to create that same dreamy effect that many Renaissance works have. I also developed my embroidery skills within my final exhibition because this was one of my Grandma’s favourite hobbies so I felt it connected well with her in terms of its subject matter (stitching a map of a city that she lived in) as well as the materials as I used her own passed down embroidery thread for the work.
Another huge influence for my art came from my Uncle Gary (my mum’s brother), he went to Art College straight after school and spent the rest of his life as an artist as well as an art teacher at a local school. When I was young he used to give my sister and I free reign upon his studio while we visited which truly began my love for the visual arts. My overall vision for presenting my body of work was to have my biggest mixed media painting as the centre of the exhibition to display a collaboration of all my skills and ideas for the concept as a whole. This work would be my biggest and most central so that viewers can get a grasp of the overarching themes in the artworks before observing further. From this central piece I wanted to scatter the rest of my works in a visual timeline, so that viewers can follow the works left to right and gain insight into the past of my family. As well as this I want each work to be relatable so that the audience feels a connection to the art rather than being purely being outside observers. This idea was what inspired my exhibition the most, as family or love is a concept so many people can relate to, as well as hoping to inspire some others to delve into their past, as it was something I found very intriguing and enjoyable.
Throughout my exhibition there is a recurring motif of dragonflies. These represent my Grandma’s soul as they were one of her favourite animals and seem to constantly be around our house in the summer as a reminder of her, keeping her memory alive.
Family Line
Screenprint on paper
30 x 42 cm
This work is a screen print of my Grandma’s brother Geared. As my Grandma grew up with very little support from her family her brother meant a lot to her as he was one of the closest family members she had. Once she moved from Jersey to England with my Grandad she fell out of touch with him, until he sent her a letter with this photo attached. The title reflects how the importance of family is so crucial even in times when you may not be in contact, the connection still remains.
Womb
Watercolour and acrylic lino stamps on paper
54 x 78 cm
This painting intends to capture the ‘rebirth’ of my grandmother, in the process of reincarnation, using the belief that individuals live different lives as different creatures. The dragonfly is a common motif throughout my works as it is an insect my Grandma loved and always reminds me of her since her death. I used watercolour to reflect the emergence of a new life and the fragile nature of a new birth.
Toulouse
Vintage embroidery thread on cloth
40 cm diameter
My aim with this work was to develop my skills in embroidery. I was particularly in this as an artform as it was something my Grandma used to spend a lot of time doing so it had significant connection to her, especially as I was using the exact same thread she used to use and then passed down to my Mother. I chose to create a map of Toulouse as this was where the French side of my Grandmothers family is from so it has significance to our whole family, as well as that it is just such a beautiful town.
Jersey Hills
Acrylic paint and fineliner on canvas board
This painting is representative of the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands where my Grandma lived when she was my age. Jersey is famous for being occupied by the German Army in the second World War and for its remoteness. I wanted to capture the idea of it being the picture book perfect island it appears to be today but it also has a dark past.
Demands of Eternity
acrylic paint, oil paint, paint pen, reprinted antique photos, lino print stamps, fineliner on canvas
102 x 102 cm
A large focal piece depicting important elements of my Grandma’s life. The title ‘Demands of Eternity’ reflects the feeling of grief and desperation to hold onto someone once they have passed away. I included elements from her life before I knew her (the church she got married in and the old photos) as well as my most vivid memories of her and her life. The green represents her garden because she loved gardening, transitioning into a blue sky. The eyes and figure depict her hardships (blindness and breast cancer) and having the family in the centre to reflect the importance of family to her.
These Streets
Gouache on canvas board with pen and Fine liner
45.7 x 61 cm
The background is evocative of a pond, as one of my key memories from visiting my grandparents would be spending lots of time in their back garden watching the fish in the pond. The abstract map highlights the areas around my grandparents’ house, the streets I used to walk along when going to fetch the weekly paper with my grandad or ingredients for dinner with my grandma. The title of the work was named after one of my Grandma’s favourite artists, Paulo Nutini.
Heart and Soul
Watercolour on paper, diptych
Overall dimensions 25 x 40cm
Both of my grandparents spent a lot of time tending to their house and garden and I believe to my grandma especially it was a safe haven. As reflected in the title my Grandma used to pour her heart and soul into caring for the plants in the garden, making it a very fun and beautiful space for my sister and I to play in the summer. To me the garden felt secluded, private but vibrant which is displayed in the painting in the secretive nature of the archway leading to open space.
Departure
Oil paint on canvas board
41 cm diameter
This painting works in unison with ‘Womb’ intending to show the development of an individual throughout their life, from the faint and fragile nature of the watercolour to the more permanent and additive nature of oil paints. The all black background represents the death and transcendence into a new life, contrasting with the beauty of a dragonfly. The use of linseed oil medium creates a reflective glean to the wings similar to the shine of a dragonfly.
Loyalty
Oil paint on canvas board, with acrylic lino stamps and gold leaf
45.7 x 61 cm
An oil painting of my Grandad’s hands resting upon my Grandma’s dressing table holding her gold chain necklace. With this work I was trying to capture the surreal moments of reflection when grieving, and the effect that ‘ordinary’ objects have upon someone after the loss of a loved one. I added emphasis to the chain using gold leaf to display the significance, as well as putting gold leaf on the watch to display the connection between my grandparents. I also added the lino stamps to represent the soul symbolised by the dragonfly of my grandma.
