Lara Japiassu

Lara and Jordan

I have always liked to represent my experiences and thoughts in a visual way. From my earliest memories, my space has always been covered in any medium I could find – crayons, charcoal, ballpoint pens – in an attempt to express my ideas to both myself, in a process of self-exploration, and others around me to communicate my personal perspective. I am fascinated by how our bodies – gesture, movement, and faces – can tell stories and ultimately represent emotion beyond what can be described through language. I am interested in investigating the ways through which I find connection to both myself and the world around me, and the feelings of harmony and comfort that I relate to my interpretation of the concept of connection. Consequently, I explore the settings, people, and environments that bring me feelings of harmony and closeness, and ultimately contribute to a sense of connection and purpose.

My pieces mainly consist of portraits and figures, as I explore how physical expressions can communicate emotion. I experiment with warm, vibrant colors and contrasting values, as a reflection of memory and the warmth of moments of connection and unity. Colored pencils and pastels especially allow me to play with color and layering to express the warmth and vibrancy I intend to create in these drawings, although I love using a variety of media like graphite, acrylics, and ballpoint pen.

My closest relationships with friends and family are crucial to my understanding of my identity and my ability to feel connected to my surroundings. The simple gesture of resting my head on another person’s shoulder represents so much to me: from the comfort and closeness of this contact to the support and relief I find in friendship and emotional connections. In this pastel portrait, I wanted to explore seeking strength and support in interpersonal relationships through the depth that this simple, yet meaningful gesture can represent. I used warm, vibrant colors to emphasize the comfort of this connection, and paid special attention to the depth and vibrancy of the skin tones used, as I associate this with the personal closeness and trust I intended to depict in the piece. Through both subjects’ fixed, calm gazes, I sought to convey the mutual sense of peace and comfort that I experience through a friend’s support and understanding. Ultimately, this piece explores my perception that seemingly small gestures can hold immense emotional significance and serve as a means for strengthening meaningful connections with others, which I find essential in cultivating relationships that create a sense of purpose and meaning.