Join us on Saturday, April 20th, from 2 PM to 4 PM for an artist reception for Annette Lorant at the cafe Demitasse in Santa Monica (1149 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA). You are invited to meet with artist Lorant and to experience her artistry in person. The art exhibition will be on display from Saturday, April 20th to Sunday, June 23rd, 2024.
The history of Annette Lorant and insight into her current art exhibition
Annette Lorant was raised in a suburb of Paris, a town called Sceaux. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Paris 1 - Sorbonne and studied at the Art Students League (ASL) in New York City. While working as an au pair in Bath, England, Annette enrolled in a Foundation Art course and became very excited about creating with different media.
Annette became fascinated by art at a young age, particularly during a visit with her mother to an exhibition of J.M.W. Turner at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The way light pierced through the sky and the passionate brush strokes left a lasting impression on her. Similarly, a visit to the Tate gallery in 1990 to see an exhibition of Rothko's work evoked intense emotions—a vibration of light so profound that it felt like a form of meditation. Growing up in Paris, Annette had the opportunity to explore numerous museums, with the Quai d'Orsay being her favorite. She even spent a summer working as a guard at the Musee Marmottan, where she developed a deep appreciation for the Impressionists, who have had the biggest influence on her work. Monet's modern approach to painting, with his thick layers of paint and vibrant light, continues to inspire her. She is also captivated by the light and vibrancy of colors in Degas' pastels. In 2021, during a visit to Paris to see her family, Annette stumbled upon Damien Hirst's incredibly joyful exhibition, "Cherry Blossoms." It inspired her to experiment with finger painting, capturing thick dabs of color by chance. She also recalls a childhood experience in an atelier where she engaged in finger painting along a piece of paper. Those "finger dots paintings" are directly inspired by that nostalgic memory.
Annette then moved to New York and continued her studies of art at The Art Students League, an institution that has historically aimed to provide accessible art education and foster the development of emerging artists. She concentrated on using pastels and produced a series of Bananas dancing and falling in the air. Annette created sculptures with wire in foam, half moons, and figurative sculptures using a mix of materials. Afterwards, she started a series of panels featuring flowers to find calm in the midst of the 'jungle of New York'. While in New York, Annette met Casey Jones who became a good friend and confidant, not only pushing her and encouraging her to keep painting but also becoming her biggest collector.
When Annette moved to Los Angeles, her focus shifted to sunflowers. Their accessibility, readily available at Trader Joe’s, made them a frequent subject of her artistic exploration. She also reminisced about the magnificent fields of sunflowers in France, where the flower heads dutifully followed the sun's direction. However, amidst this admiration, there's an inner turmoil conveyed by their petals, resembling unruly hair in a dance—an aspect that she finds fascinating. Moreover, the complexity of their yellows captivates her, as does the large, dark heart of the flower, hiding specks of hidden colors within. As for the painting of carnations, the delicacy and lace-like edges of the flowers compelled her to adopt a more conservative approach to painting.
In the series of flowers presented at cafe Demitasse, Annette decided to exhibit this body of work because flowers embody a fragility yet possess incredible strength, yearning to be alive, growing, and moving towards the light. Within the paintings, there is a subtle reference to dance, to the movement inherent in the flowers she paints, expressing the essence of being alive and the longing for another state of being while finding beauty in the present moment. The more Annette concentrates on flowers, the more she understands the meditation that Eckhart Tolle shares about 'looking at a flower' or observing the perfection of nature. When she visited the fields of poppies in Lancaster, California, she became enthralled with the delicacy of the poppies; the petals swaying in the wind reminded her of the flowing dresses of dancers in Alvin Ailey’s performances.
When developing a series of artwork, Annette's initial process involves taking pictures of nature and going for walks to admire gardens and various plants, then seeing if the photographs resonate with her. Once she has chosen a photograph, she begins painting in the afternoon when the light is at its best in her studio. Annette's focus is to extract the most vibrant light from the photos and present it in the paintings. While she enjoys the immediacy of pastels due to their direct contact with the paper, she currently works mostly in acrylic. The immediacy of acrylic paint means that her gesture cannot be erased—it serves as a witness to the moment. Annette begins her artistic process by going for a walk, grabbing coffee, and immersing herself in nature to get inspired and move her body. She starts with a photograph that she has taken, often drawn to a particular movement or light that catches her eye. The process evolves from a sense of magic, where she discovers emerging shapes, to moments of total panic, and eventually to the surprise of a finished piece. Through this process, Annette learns focus and discipline. She cherishes that magical moment when everything falls into place, and there's no need to question anything anymore.
Annette hopes that viewers of her artwork, particularly this series of flowers, can find hope in the colors and be drawn towards the light. In times when it can feel as if we are surrounded by darkness, she encourages people to reconnect with nature, to find inspiration in its beauty. Her aim is to contribute to a sense of hope, joy, and a positive start to the day—perhaps with that morning coffee! She aims to evoke the surprise and delight inherent in the creative process. Annette's message is simple: Just do it! Create! Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect space.
The common theme throughout Annette's artwork is the impulse of movement—of creating, striving towards something, searching for an existence. Her future projects include working on a series of sunsets and sunrises above the Santa Monica beaches. She loves the sense of freedom you experience there. Additionally, Annette creates children's illustrations and is exploring ways to incorporate her fine art into them.
Annette would also like to thank her husband, Tibor, for his love and support. He's her rock, bringing a smile to her face every day.