Lila Expressions' art practice is focused on creating abstract paintings with the aim to capture every-day experiences of reality in physical form and share it with the audience. The art works do not begin with preconceived notions of a finished product; rather, they are provoked by dreams, or emerged from subconscious associations between images, text, and their meanings.
The process starts with a vague thematic idea, a dominant colour, a quote, a form, symbolic of an underlying emotional impression. Then it’s about relaxing and working intuitively, freeing oneself from the constraints of the rational mind. It is a liberating experience, full of joy and awe as one discovers the content of one’s sub-conscious manifests on the canvas.
Painting gives fluid layers, creating various colours and shades, allowing forms to emerge. It is pure abstraction yet with figurative references to the content of the sub-conscious. The painting becomes a bridge between an emotional state and the physical reality.
Consciousness plays a key role in Lila Expressions practice. "The human being is the first entity on the upward evolutionary scale who can deliberately create with consciousness. Since the dawn of time, human beings have been fascinated by the concept of Creation which we have tried to explain through religions themes and science. Mainstream science calls it the Big Bang.
"The painting becomes a bridge between an emotional state and the physical reality"
In Hinduism, it’s believed that the cosmos is the outcome of the creative play of the Divine. In Judaism, Christianity and Sufism of Islam, human beings are believed to be created in the image and likeness of God. The created universe that we experience is the Creator’s exploration of Itself. We are direct self-expressions of this Original Consciousness. In other words, we are spiritual beings in mortal flesh, 'God-Beings' imbued with creative potential through our intrinsic gift of free-will choice.
The perceptual filters through which we choose to experience reality provide for a very unique human experience and can also give rise to a very tangible experience of separation and isolation. But no being can ever be ‘outside of God-Source’. Each expression of Source has the freedom to explore and experience directly.
"In short, we are all artists of consciousness"
Religions are also a point of reference for Lila Expressions drive to create. "I am very curious about religions, psychology, quantum physics and philosophy, as medium to explore the concept of consciousness. These disciplines may originate from different perceptions of reality but they do have some commonalities, if only for example in the feeling of amazement towards Life.
I have been lucky to travel the world. South East Asia in particular holds a special place in my heart. It’s in South East Asia that I developed a deeper understanding of Eastern philosophies and beliefs such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. I have spent several years working with people in India, learning through these exchanges about the incredible religious diversity that has characterised the country for centuries. In 2019, I took an unpaid leave of absence from my regular job and volunteered as an English and Youth Leadership teacher at the International Buddhist Education Centre (IBEC) in Sagaing, Myanmar. The experience provided a fantastic opportunity to feed my curiosity by debating with the students of the similarities between modern psychology and Buddhism.
Lila Expressions is based in London and is taking part in the local art scene. "I am a French national and I have been living in London for 15 years. With its rich heritage and diverse population, I could not think of a better place to experience the diversity of human beliefs.
London has one of the most diverse and exciting art scenes in the world. It is home to such world-renowned institutions as the Tate Modern and the National Gallery, as well as some of the world’s most influential contemporary living artists.
To get a taste of the city’s rich art scene, you need only take a walk around the city’s Mayfair area, where you will find dozens of innovative and inspiring galleries. But it does not stop there, and the new wave of contemporary artists, curators and gallerists have looked to alternative spaces to escape the more elitist West London art scene. One only needs to take a walk in Shoreditch where street artists from all over the world leave an ever changing imprint of energy and creativity on the walls."
Lila Expressions is developing her art career taking advantage of today's digital and online tools. Some of her recent works are available on her web shop and her Instagram account.
"Art is inspiring because it can provide us with imaginative links to parts of ourselves which might otherwise be inaccessible. Our souls do not speak human language; they communicate to us through symbols, metaphors, visions, poetry and deep feelings. Art is nothing more or less than a reflective impression of the soul who experiences it. And so art must be accessible to all.
Digital tools are changing art-making and being an artist by increasing and democratising access to art. If you think artists are useless, try to spend your quarantine without music, books, poems, movies and paintings. The online world offers every one of us irrevocable access to unique works of art. All you need is a smart phone. The eye will rest on a picture, the soul will respond to its symbology and that phenomenon will happen whether or not purchasing is involved."