Lorraine Fossi

About my work:

There are things… gaping holes, frailties, fears and mysteries that only the artistic image can instantly fill and transcend. Words cannot express any of such indescribable features. Painting can take us to places otherwise unseen and unheard, turning into a vehicle that leads our consciousness into the unknown.

 I try to stare at immensity beyond the naked eye, in an abstract and structural way without losing awareness of the world’s materiality. I chose abstraction for its inclusiveness and impartiality in material, emotional and spiritual matters. Rothko is a prime example of truly inspirational art.

 I paint with oil. The physical aspect of painting is paramount to me: pushing, carving, scratching, sculpting my paints with a palette knife, giving directions and meaning to every single stroke. Through sculpting my paint, I construct my visual spaces from inside, filling them with passion and energy, as if looking for an intimate space between the work and myself. These visual ‘building’ allows me to breath, feel and reflect on the human condition.

 The Sea is my mastered subject. It is a mass… but one can go through! Most importantly, the Sea’s impermanence makes it inherently abstract. It is also a place where I escape; the fantasy of the ultimate refuge…Full of unconditional love as well as broken promises, my sea paintings are feminine, nostalgic and therefore dynamic. Art must transform us.

In my recent work I have been reconnecting with my architectural background. My own demons and personal torment are exposed, transformed and eventually framed. The painting suggests restraint whilst inspiring dynamic and calm...  while contemplating we are invited to go deeper and deeper, revealing the hidden. One emerges into an aesthetic mind map surrounded by unseen entities, disconnecting and reconnecting. I’m aiming at establishing a path to self-realization with grace and hope.

About me:

 I grew up in Paris in a family of architects and artists hence Architecture studies at the Beaux Art was my 'ticket'. Meanwhile, having spent my idle time between the banks of the Seine and the beaches of Normandy, I fell in love with the sea and the freedom it represents.

 In 2000, I have moved to London with my husband and son and my architectural practice took on another dimension. Today I am a painter. Finally, I have reached the equilibrium between my architect foundation and visual aspiration. Through sculpting my paints, I construct my visual spaces from inside, filling them with passion and energy. This visual 'building' allows me to breath, feel and reflect on human condition in a deeply personal yet directed ways.