LAURA LONDON
“ONCE UPON A TIME…”
PRESS RELEASE:
Laura London “Once Upon A Time…Axl Rose Was My Neighbor”
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The show title beginning with “Once Upon A Time…” was, we believed, an obvious reference to fantasy and a re-imagined reality. The gallery regrets any possible inferrence otherwise made, and we apologize for the confusion.
Coagula Curatorial is pleased to announce the presentation of a solo show of new art by Los Angeles fine art photographer LAURA LONDON. Entitled “Once Upon A Time…”, the exhibit explores the fine line between constructed narrative and documentary, private portraiture and celebrity posing, and, most intensely, melodrama juxtapozed with the all out rock and roll lifestyle.
Laura London “Once Upon A Time…Axl Rose Was My Neighbor”
Professional makeup artists, fine artists and hair stylists were hired to apply the transfers, paint on the tattoos, make up the models and style the hair to resemble the characters in the band. The artist did the styling, costumes and set design herself. Line drawings were made for transfers based on the tattoos of the characters.
The exhibit will feature large-scale 40”x40” and 20”x20” photographs shot on 2 ¼ film using natural and tungsten light and a 10-foot wall mural printed on vinyl. There is also a salon style wall of photographs that include behind the scenes, close up details and other media inspired pictures printed in various sizes. The installation of the work tells a story, a visual narrative and the experience of seeing the photographs as an exhibition reads similar to viewing a film.
Ms London explains, “My studio practice explores issues of identity, youth and contemporary culture. Similar to a social anthropologist, I observe people and social situations. My work comes from a combination of personal experience, memory, observation and imagination. ‘Once Upon A Time…’ is a docudrama based on an interpretation and depiction of actual events.”
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Coagula Curatorial is located on the Chung King Road row of contemporary art galleries in Downtown L.A.’s historic Chinatown neighborhood. The gallery is open Wednesday thru Sunday, Noon – 5 PM.