Metamorphosis of Mystical States: Laria Saunders
June 22nd 2010 18:21
"Papillon Portal
Her Feral Eyes Stay - 2010
Laria Saunders
Bio:
I grew up equally in Boston, New York and Los Angeles My two great passions have always been dance and photography. Immersing myself in the darkroom got me through high school and each new area I lived in became my new subject to photograph. My first large photographic series was from touring Russia as a performing artist at age 16. I graduated from UCLA (summa cum laude) and as an Alumni Arts Scholar in the World Arts & Culture program. Photography and video were important components of the curriculum and I put it to practice by going to India on Grant to research dance through photography, writing and video. The series on India, reflects some of this work. I had to cut short my career in dance due to chronic pain so now focus solely on photography and have started a business with my partner, called Photography Studio 311. We offer headshots, pro-retouching, make-up/hair, graphic design and fine art prints.
I'm constantly challenged by the great artists in my heritage (Illustrators CE Chambers, Fanny Munsell Chambers and Richard Chambers) as well as 9 photographers. Having four generations of exemplary artists on both sides of my family is a constant inspiration in my own artistic endeavors.
Artist Statement:
The abstracts reflect a metamorphosis of mystical states underlying unimaginable suffering. They encompass this transformation by adhering to the simple concept that in an instant one can embody the whole of creation and that the accumulation of all of ones experience can be expressed in this instant.
Drawing upon a lifetime of classical sacred dance, 25 years of photography, a family of artists and 25 years of meditation, Laria’s natural propensity towards photography is to infuse her capture with sacred movement, emboldened creative sight and elevated mystical perception.
In a non-traditional capacity this movement arises out of the original desire to create, and the embrace of our creation integrated with transcendent Being is a spiritually inclusive concept. Non-traditional in that instead of steadying the camera to capturea reality one believes one sees superficially she takes the material world components and by combining their essence of color, texture and light is in effect displaying their real essence of being.
She believes the result is a combination of the transcendental with the material reality and that by elevating what one sees with the “seer” itself the reality transforms into a mystical form that is directly a derivative of it’s naturally exalted original state.
Having endured a constant migraine for 12 years and given up her livelihood as a dancer, Laria turns to photography as her tool to express her transformation beyond suffering. The images are intended to raise consciousness as well as be healing in their capacity to take one into a portal unknown and yet vastly familiar.
Moving with the camera defies all photographic technique and yet her “normal” captures reflect her technical ability in photographic art. The camera is merely an extension of the eye (I = first person) seeing the “it” or “you” (2nd, 3rd person, culture) and using all quadrants of this perceiving and relating to create a “we,” result. In effect, a new being (photo) with a life of it’s own is created and it can be referred to as a distillation of a goal that is in the end very simple.
We are a result of 17 billion years of evolution and we have evolved to the point of being able to self-reflect. The artist has a new directive to then produce from a state of awareness that encompasses a future we are fundamentally co-creating. A future that only “we” can bring about through conscious egoless compassion towards all beings, including ourselves.
All creation suffers and yet we are not that, we have the ability to recognize who we truly are and with the essential tool of right perception transform suffering into the finality of bliss, peace and integral thinking.
Be sure to visit Laria's website.
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