French artist Laure Mary emerges from the depths of adversity with a powerful exhibition, It All Begins When It Ends opening at Richard Heller Gallery in Los Angeles on February 22. This collection of paintings is Mary's courageous response to surviving domestic violence, channeling her experience into a deeply moving body of work. It gives voice to an experience often shrouded in silence: the aftermath of trauma. The creation of this show is intertwined with Mary's own process of healing, each artwork marking a step forward.
Through a surreal lens, Mary's dreamlike scenes capture fragmented memories and psychological disorientation. Mary's paintings include for the first time "blue moons" with exaggerated crevices. These serve as metaphors for a romanticized reality, reflecting our tendency to find beauty even in suffering. The moon, as we know it, is a celestial protector, and here symbolizes the artist's inner strength and guidance, leading her through darkness. Stars, depicted as shooting stars, emit light that reaches us with a time gap due to the vast distances that separate them from us, much like contemporary art can challenge our immediate understanding and require time for its meaning to fully unfold.
Echoing the tradition of Vanitas popularized in the 17th century, Mary's paintings offer a contemporary twist. Her still life paintings chronicle her unique journey through recovery. Psychological distress can manifest in many ways, including depersonalization, a state where the mind disconnects from the body. This detachment is represented through spectral figures that haunt Mary's canvases, embodying the fragmentation of identity and the invisible wounds. These specters serve as poignant reminders of the dehumanizing effects and the struggle to reclaim one's sense of self. The unconscious is a separate entity residing within us, a constant source of internal conflict. As French-Poet Rimbaud wrote, "I is another." We cannot perform our lives, our true selves will inevitably break through, like tattered wallpaper that reveals the layers hidden beneath its surface in the painting titled Me is another.
"My studio became my sanctuary. Bringing new works to life, my survival." explains Mary. This rebirth is symbolized by the staging of her teeth, signed "Mary" representing her reclaiming of self. These uncanny objects speak to the enduring nature of identity, even in the face of adversity.
It All Begins When It Ends is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of art. Mary's paintings delve into the profound depths of trauma but also offer a powerful message of hope for survivors of domestic violence. This exhibition is on view at Richard Heller Gallery in Los Angeles from February 22 to March 29, 2025.
In a gesture of gratitude and solidarity, Mary will donate all proceeds from the sale of her painting The Safe Place to Solidarite Femmes. This French organization provides vital support to women and children who are victims of violence, and they played a crucial role in helping Mary during her recovery journey. — Lisa Boudet, curator and writer
