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Laura-Anne Fung (right) explaining her work.
Visual art is one form of creative expression that absolutely has the power to confound. Discussions regarding what is good, or how much art is really worth, can bounce back and forth without going anywhere. At a recent Laura-Anne Fung exhibition, which I attended with a tour group, the discussion turned on the question of value. Fung’s work, though not the most expensive, is definitely not the cheapest. Some thought it outrageous for her, at 18, to even contemplate charging as much as established artists who had been around for decades. The backdrop for our discussion was the recent launch of her exhibition at Grosvenor Galleries. The work on display was bold, exhibiting bright brush strokes; but perhaps equally impressive was the launch itself. The conservative gallery had been tricked out by the addition of a wine bar, a food station with aromatic scents, streams of white cloth accented by tiny disco lights, and a disc jockey. Pretty spectacular for a Jamaican art launch! The decor, the pricing, and the art itself all hinted at a personality worth learning more about. The portrait that emerged of Fung was quite intriguing.
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On her perspective, she is very clear. Her art “is not about what my viewer likes or wants to see, it’s about what I want; if the viewer likes it or not, that’s their opinion. It’s mostly about trying to express my own emotions.” She is equally concerned with the freedom to express those emotions. When asked what themes she focuses on in her work, she replies, “Mainly freedom. It’s my freedom to paint what I want and what I feel. Under my theme freedom, many other themes will follow. I can paint about love, hate, religion, poverty and so on, which I do, but it’s my freedom to cover all areas without restriction.” But, paradoxically, to hear Fung describe the grip art has on her life is to conjure up the image of one without freedom. “I continue to create art because I have to and I need to. It’s almost like oxygen. If you ask me why I create art you’re basically asking me why I continue to breathe. It will be a lifelong occupation as well as whatever other interests I pursue.” Fung, however, is happy about being an artist. “I love art. There’s nothing I hate about being an artist.” And although she is only 18, Fung has been loving art for a while.

“Art has always been a part of my life. In prep school, they always had art and craft; even in high school they had art which was mandatory up until a certain grade. I guess I just took it a step further. I took it seriously at about the age of 11.” Fung’s work can be found on canvas, on glasses – she has a line of glassware which she paints herself – on her bedroom walls, on tiles, “pretty much anything I can get my hands on,” she says. The image that was unfolding was of a young woman driven and passionate about her work. Fung entered the JCDC Visual Art Competition between 2006 and 2009 and has on at least one occasion won gold; she exhibited in the Liguanea Art Festival in 2008 and 2009; was part of a group exhibition at the Olympia Gallery in 2008; and exhibited during Kingston on the Edge in 2010. Clearly her energy and her passion get her results. Yet, does this justify her, some would say, inflated prices? 

Her unapologetic response: “I do not believe my works are overpriced. It all depends. It’s like describing to your friend something [that] is big, when you and your friend both have different views on what you consider to be big. If you can’t afford my art, then you just can’t. But there are people who can and many who do buy. My art takes time and effort; each piece is unique and none is ever repeated. I price them on what I believe they are valued at and based on how they sell. I do make affordable pieces, however people tend to want the more expensive ones.” Fung reveals her prices range from $8,000 to $150,000. “That isn’t my problem. It doesn’t make sense to say my pieces are over-priced when you know I have affordable pieces and instead want the expensive ones.” According to press reports, at the launch Fung sold 6 of the pieces on display. 

Fung the artist is also a teenager who “definitely cannot dance”, enjoys all music except country, and whose favourite books include The Hunger Games and Digital Fortress. When she’s not painting she’s doing homework, sports, or community service. Her next project? “The next project is for charity, where I’ll do a piece and try and sell it so that I can donate the proceeds to a specific cause. Apart from that I have a group exhibition that I’m taking part in December in NYC on Broadway at the Broadway Galley.” At 18, Laura-Anne Fung looks set to paint the world ablaze with her mighty brush. 

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Comments

taina
01/28/2011 13:37

i like your work but need to know more about your work would you help me with my profile that deals with love n i chose you

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