Lauren G Venable
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Intimate Moments
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Intimate Moments
In this body of work I capture queer intimacy between two women, my girlfriend and I. Each drawing references comfort and seemingly monotonous moments that feel perfect and almost sublime. They are the result of being in close contact with one another in small ways, her hand on my back while we hug or holding hands in bed. In these moments I feel supported and loved without verbal confirmation of such feelings. While these drawings are extremely personal, they have the opportunity to be relatable to others in intimate relationships. The ordinary nature of these interactions means that they can occur again, despite them being in the past. The urge to develop these compositions stem from a desire to stop time, to slow down and savor the intimacy with my partner.
For these works, I used charcoal to render the drawings in black and while. This emphasizes that these are depictions from the past. The charcoal allows me to create a subtle range of soft, blended areas mixed with more intuitive, gestural marks. Each drawing is rendered to a different degree. This is done to draw attention to the locus of intimacy between my partner and I. Furthermore, each composition is cropped to allow for attention to fall on the action of touch between the figures and bring the viewer into the interaction.
In this body of work I capture queer intimacy between two women, my girlfriend and I. Each drawing references comfort and seemingly monotonous moments that feel perfect and almost sublime. They are the result of being in close contact with one another in small ways, her hand on my back while we hug or holding hands in bed. In these moments I feel supported and loved without verbal confirmation of such feelings. While these drawings are extremely personal, they have the opportunity to be relatable to others in intimate relationships. The ordinary nature of these interactions means that they can occur again, despite them being in the past. The urge to develop these compositions stem from a desire to stop time, to slow down and savor the intimacy with my partner.
For these works, I used charcoal to render the drawings in black and while. This emphasizes that these are depictions from the past. The charcoal allows me to create a subtle range of soft, blended areas mixed with more intuitive, gestural marks. Each drawing is rendered to a different degree. This is done to draw attention to the locus of intimacy between my partner and I. Furthermore, each composition is cropped to allow for attention to fall on the action of touch between the figures and bring the viewer into the interaction.
36 in x 24 in
charcoal on paper
2023
There are certain moments that I never want to let go of, a desperation that I am sure other people feel. One of these moments is one of intimacy and "perfection". A hug is indicative of support, but the hug from my significant other provides me with reassurance and protection. Her hands pressing slightly into my back is a moment I always want to be in and is the reason that her hands are at the forefront of this large scale drawing. With this piece, I do not let go.
shown in Art from the Heartland, Indianapolis Art Center, IA, 2024
30 in x 40 in
charcoal on paper
2024
30 in x 40 in
charcoal on paper
2024
36 in x 81 in
charcoal on paper
2023
30 in x 40 in
charcoal on paper
2024
24 in x 36 in
charcoal on paper
2023
70 in x 42 in
charcoal on paper
2022
I met my girlfriend when I was not looking for love but it found me. Rather, she found me. In this piece I explore vulnerability. The bed is a personal place of comfort which you choose to share. I depict my girlfriend and I in a bed, sharing this space, exemplifying the scary, yet exciting process of getting to know someone intimately. Knowing what they fear and what makes their eyes light up. This two way process means that you also have to be ready to share a part of yourself. This bed represents us revealing and concealing parts of ourselves as we open up to one another.
shown in the DuMA Biennial, Dubuque, IA, 2023, awarded second place