Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Bustamante.
Laura, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
As artists, we are constantly asked what is our story and what we are about. In our work, we expose pieces of ourselves, which in turn make us vulnerable. Still, this is something I struggle with. At times, I question whether I am a product of circumstances or something completely independent from it.
I was born and raised in Madrid, Spain and moved to the United States at the age of fourteen.
The visual and performing arts were deeply integrated into my education and my personal life. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a culture where I was encouraged to speak my mind. In my household, we have always been women. I was raised by a single mother, alongside my younger sister. Being raised by a single mother has provided me with an understanding of support systems involved in a community.
The homes we built and the communities that surrounded us have always had a great impact on my life. Moving to the United States opened my mind to the many realities of the world. Outside the comfort of my home, I became just another person who immigrated to this country. As immigrants, we look for support in communities outside from our own and we learn to draw similarities and build connections to those who share the same experience.
All of these factors have shaped who I am as a person and as an artist. I make artwork because I believe in the importance that art has in society. I believe that art has the power to create conversations and influence communities.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work aims to discuss the home as something universal and intangible. The shape, size, and form of the spaces where we find comfort varies among different people. I explore the idea of a home in different socio-political contexts such as immigration and homelessness.
A home for me represents the fundamental human need for a safe space and security. I create structures that relate to the need for stability and challenge what the meaning of shelter is for different groups of people.
I create conversations on the conventional contexts of materials and challenge the assumptions that solid materials bring stability and support. Thus, in my work, I juxtapose hard construction materials, such as steel and cement, against soft domestic fabrics. In addition, I include other sensory elements, such as sound and smell, to make the viewer aware of the space surrounding him or her and simultaneously evoke feelings of comfort, thus allowing them to expand their unique concept of a home.
The concepts behind my pieces do not end short with the object, but rather focus on the interactions made with the public and the conversations that stem from their participation.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
In my opinion, art has always been a reflection of society and the time. The role of the artist hasn’t changed but the themes we speak about have. With the expansion of globalization and platforms, like social media, there is less fear of expressing ideas and challenging the systems.
Current events have a major influence in my practice, and how could it not? My work speaks about our home. When socio-political circumstances and laws are affecting our communities they pertain to our home, directly. In recent years, I have learned to understand my own privilege and how I can use it to bring awareness to many social issues. As an artist, I am privileged enough to have the platform to speak up. Therefore, I use my voice to speak up for those who can’t. I discuss issues that affect our homes, our communities, and I try to humanize those facts that otherwise would be mere headlines.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The best way to support my art practices is to see and interact with the work in person. I will have some artwork on display January 19th, 2019, for a one-night pop-up exhibition Just Us Gallery. I will also be participating in Inhabited curated by C3 (Leah Brown, Lisa Rockford, Kara Walker-Tome) The exhibition will run from January 25th to April 1st, 2019 at FATVillage Projects.
Social media is a great platform to share ideas and start discussions. I post constantly about upcoming shows and work in progress. Feel free to comment your thoughts on any of the post.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laubustamante.com
- Email: laubustamante08@gmail.com
- Instagram: @_laubustamante
Image Credit:
Laura Bustamante
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