Laura Insua

Lives and works in Tampa, FL, USA

Artist statement

I was born and bred in Cuba. I was politically formed under socialist principles that I repeated until I got exhausted. I was trained to deeply hate capitalism and therefore The U.S.A. I found in art an illusory freedom, an opportunity to express myself in a context of non-freedom of speech. As a direct consequence of that I’m interested in subverting power in any of its forms. I look for potentialities, faults, cracks in social and political structures in order to parody standards, restrictions, the establishment. Beneath its subtle exterior my work problematizes matters in a cynical way. I’m particularly interested in micro-studies and subaltern studies as they dethrone established notions. I focus on small units of research as micro-history does. I work with phenomena that everybody can see as part of everyday life. I could describe my practice as a very dynamic one. I often take specific historical or political events as my starting point. Sometimes my work is about a found place, a first sight interest. I assume my work as a research-oriented practice in which the interdisciplinary is crucial. My work is characterized by an expanded use of media that includes action, performance, intervention, video, video-installations, drawing, painting and photography. Some recent works have been long-term projects that demand a huge commitment and are exposed to changes beyond the original plan. Since my work depends upon the context my current practice explores the U.S reality....

Artwork