The Unconscious Therapy: A Solo Exhibition by LUAP Curated by MC Llamas

Luap

Curator MC Llamas has collaborated with artist LUAP on a vast solo exhibition on New Bond Street opening during Frieze Week 2021 between 13 to 17 October. LUAP’s artistic practice features paintings, photography, installation, sound, film, and sculpture touching on critical personal and universal mental illness and recovery themes. The exhibition should open to coincide with Mental Illness week. 

Each floor of the exhibition will investigate a different facet of LUAP’s work

Paul Robinson, (Not the editor of Artlyst) known professionally as LUAP, presents his largest solo show to date in an expansive three-floor un-used retail space kindly provided by Great Portland Estates, developing their partnership which began with the successful window displays. The exhibition, curated by MC Llamas, will include many works that deepen LUAP’s investigation into mental health, wellbeing and connection embodied by his now-iconic Pink Bear character. The artworks will span photography, painting, installation, sound, and film, offering a complex and multifaceted exploration of experiences of mental illness, recovery, and joyful discovery.

Luap

Each floor of the exhibition will investigate a different facet of LUAP’s work. The first floor presents an overwhelming sensory experience in the form of a large-scale pink-fur installation, complete with flower displays and little pink teddy bears. This initial section sets the emotionally immersive tone for the rest of the exhibition. LUAP plans to donate the pink fur used to install the appropriate charitable organisation to prevent waste. The basement offers a selection of new and unseen paintings, photography and screen prints exploring the relationship between nature and mental wellbeing.

The images use reflections and stunning natural locations to present a journey through life’s adventures and misfortunes. In addition, the upper level uses audio-visual technology, including slide shows, sound and video, to add a sense of liveness into the exploration of the figure of the bear.

Resident DJ of the Groucho Club in Soho and founder member of Sound Women (an organisation to support and promote women’s careers working in radio) Sarah HB will a provide deep, melancholy, minimal soundtrack throughout to further the full-body sensory experience of the show. Bespoke pink bear inspired canapes and cocktails will be provided by art led restaurant group, the Daisy Green Collection – a committed supporter of LUAP. They currently display his works in their anchor locations in Soho and Paddington.

“Sometimes we can feel mentally lost like we are climbing through a wild jungle in our mind. This sensation can feel overwhelming and disorientating, but we must remind ourselves that jungles give us oxygen and nutrients, allowing us to live, breathe and develop – nature and nurture. By changing our perspective on how we cope with the inner jungle of our thoughts and memories, rather than fighting it, we dissolve our fear of being lost and instead learn to thrive and grow.” LUAP

Curator MC Llamas comments, “Luap’s work has an incredible depth of spirit. It has been great working with him and engaging with the symbolism of his work. The iconic Pink Bear is such a strong symbol for self-reflection while conveying a sense of happiness and loneliness. With this show, we aimed to conceptualise this strong image and turn it into a multi-sensory experience, which will enable the viewer to experience the image as well as looking at it.”

“The Pink Bear is not a man in a costume; it is an alter ego. The partially costume dressed figure is the transformation between reality and make-believe, innocence and corruption.” LUAP

Paul Robinson, known professionally as LUAP, is a British contemporary artist who dynamically fuses painting and photography. He was born in Grimsby in 1982 and has developed a successful career as a modern urban and fine artist. He works across various mediums, hinting at traditions of abstract expressionism whilst infusing the explosive energy and the bold colour of Pop and Urban Art. His work explores existential subjects within a contemporary feel alone in its composition, thought-provoking content, and subject matter.

Robinson sells and exhibits his work globally; highlights include London, New York, Dubai, Hong Kong and Berlin. He has exhibited alongside internationally renowned artists including Picasso, Banksy, Warhol and Hirst at Andipa Gallery Knightsbridge and created large bespoke artworks for exclusive London members club, Home House. A Pink Bear print recently sold for three times the listed price at Christie’s on behalf of the Terrence Higgins Trust.

“The work has informed the complexity of Robinson’s imagery and overlaying of the pattern of Robert Rauschenberg. Robinson paints a world, which joins Christopher Wool’s fabric paintings with a 1970’s Peter Phillips pop landscape. These images are reminiscence of dream sequences from 1960’s films; a drug trip depicted in solarisation photography where the image recorded is wholly or partially reversed in tone.” Martin Maloney

Exhibition open to the Public between 13-16 October 11 am-6 pm, 17 October 12 pm-6 pm 95 New Bond StreetLondon W1S 1DB Nearest Tube: Bond Street Station. 

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