Artists’ web talk session with General director KITAGAWA Fram vol.12 ‘New Idea’

In this session, we have invited Mr. Lavar Monroe, who will exhibit his work at the former Heisan elementary school. Lavar came from Bahamas, currently working in Washington. D.C. Due to the pandemic, he cannot come to Japan to make and install his artworks. However, he has come up with some new ideas during the quarantine.

　

Participants:
Lavar Monroe, General Director Kitagawa Fram, Art Director Toyofuku Ryo, Ichihara Art Mix Executive Committee

　

Director Fram Kitagawa (hereafter Director):
How did you spend your time during this period?

　

Lavar Monroe (hereafter Lavar):
During the pandemic, I have been drawing and making artworks in my studio.

With being in this pandemic and being so isolated, I begun to develop a body of work to explore the notion of “family” and various dynamics of family.

Not only the traditional form of family with father, mother and kids, there are also various forms of families beyond that. I feel my personal reflections are coming through my drawings. I started to make artworks that look deeply into myself while living under the pandemic.

　

Director:
I felt the same way when I saw your paintings.

　

　

Director:
Could you tell me more about your artwork in Ichihara?Will there be any changes because of the postponement?

　

Lavar:
The headspace I am in now is definitely not the headspace I was in when I was thinking of the plan for Ichihara.

While I still want to go along the lines with sculptural elements, I am also considering if I can incorporate some two dimensional elements which I am working on. In my plan, those graphic parts will be the center of my work, and the sculptural part will be an accent. We can discuss the details the other day.

　

Director:
I would love to respect your ideas.

I do not know where the situation will go, but I am looking forward to talking with you face to face.

　

Lavar:
I have two options at present, one of which is to ship the drawings from my studio in the U.S. to Japan. The other is making an installation work which the sculpture is responding to the drawings.

　

　

Director:
For the Instagram project “Artists’ Breath” (https://www.instagram.com/artistsbreathpress/), you sent us a video about the situation in Washington D.C in June. Could you tell me the current situation out there?

　

Lavar:
I am living in Baltimore now, which is around 1 or 2-hour drive away from Washington D.C.

People were protesting almost every day when I sent the video, but now you do not see or hear so much protests around this area.

However, the movement is still going on, including conversations and small-scale gatherings.

　

Director:
Are there any restrictions on traveling right now?

　

Lavar:
Not really. The domestic flights are slowly resuming, and I went to Wyoming in a last month and half.

We are still asked to wear masks and use hand sanitizers, but I feel as if normal days are coming back. Restaurants and bars are also open now.

　

Director:
Well, thank you very much for your time today.

　

Lavar:
I am looking forward to visiting Japan again. I will soon prepare for painting.

　

　

Artists’ web talk session with General director KITAGAWA Fram
vol.1 ‘Hope artists have in the midst of the coronavirus disease outbreak’
vol.2 ‘Communication between two distant places’
vol.3 ‘Beyond borders’
vol.4 ‘Small changes in the daily life of the artist’
vol.5 ‘Time difference of 12 hours’
vol.6 ’Online Photo Session?'
vol.7 ‘Possibilities of public spaces’
vol.8 ‘Changing artwork’
vol.9 ‘Longest summer vacation’
vol.10 ‘Entomological Souvenirs by Shuhei Ohno’
vol.11 ‘Living on the island’