Featured Artist
LIODA CONRAD
INCENDIARY CONVERSATIONS
www.galleryone11.com
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NCENDIARY CONVERSATIONS by Lioda Conrad is about the interaction between art works hanging next to each other and the ignition of somewhat challenging almost confrontational conversation between ” them” and the audience. On closer inspection each individual artwork stands alone with its own story, questions and vulnerability, invoking the viewer to engage in incendiary conversations. All artwork make use of fumage, a technique using fire to paint with smoke that is layered with mixed media. Conrad works on repurposed surfaces layering them with mixed media onto an initial creation generated by a medium as old as the beginning of mankind itself: fire! The application of this unconventional/ destructive medium creates delicate, fragile, deeply emotive works that touches our inner being. The work is somewhat uncomfortable and it’s loaded with layers of realizations that dreams are not as we imagined, that we have parts missing forever lost or squashed and contorted by the unforeseen that roll out in our lives, experiences that leave indelible lines drawn on our faces and eyes. Confronted with eyes that look back at their audience and ask to be worthy of their consideration. Lest we forget that each of us had our own dreams relegated to the back of our minds, almost forgotten and released as unattainable.
“Lioda Conrad’s work bravely asks of us to take time to be still and try to listen, to look deeper and release our compassion.” Red Afro
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