Deborah Barr: A Filtered World
Deborah Barr is a contemporary artist who draws on her interest in anthropology and spiritual and cultural traditions from around the world. The artist's new work captures GEN-Z's preoccupation with perfection, social media, and beauty and explores the use of AI and filters. Drawing on apps and photo manipulation, the artist's paintings blend positive (skin tones and lighting) and negative (teal photographic negatives) elements. Large bearded Irises, symbols of hope, are interwoven into the compositions. Figures are lost in a chaotic mix of shapes, colors, and reversed lighting, reflecting the disarray of today’s world. The work explores the psychological impact of rapid technological change and the overwhelming information youth face, resulting in a filtered and fragmented sense of reality.
How did your creative journey begin?
It began when I was trying to find myself. I became a mother at 17 and by age 25 I had three children. At age 27, a source greater than myself told me to “Matriculate.” I had to look it up because I didn’t know what it meant. To my surprise the definition was to go to college. So I did, aimlessly taking classes and having almost two AA degrees before moving on to Mills College in Oakland, Ca. My focus became art and I was blessed to study under Hung Liu. During that time Polly Claus was taken from her home. I began painting for the children. Abused children, missing and neglected children. Broken homes, gang violence, and death by guns. I am highly motivated and while raising three children, I went from Mills College straight into an MFA program at San Jose State University.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I lived in San Ramon, California during that time. An area that one could call Yuppy-ville. My studio was my garage. I would leave the door open and teenagers that heard about my work would come by to see. It wasn’t long before they were talking about the drug problems, the gun problems the absent parents. These kids were given new BMW’s for their 16th birthday. It was then I realized it wasn’t just kids “out there” that were facing problems and issues, but also right here in my home town. A small city that imagined itself safe in a bubble. But their kids knew better.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
My education was before the Internet. Before instructors shared their secrets. Endless searching for content in the libraries and typing on a typewriter only to have to start over due to typos. We were encouraged to find our own visual dialogue. Our own style. No glitter, no cartoons, no super hero’s. That wasn’t fine art (1995-1998) back then. My content was children’s issues. The context was in current events concerning them, and my formal issues became mixed media. Oil, acrylic, collage, found objects, oil on aluminum cut out into life sized forms. Bullet casings with hand written names of the children who died in American due to guns. My work now is predominately oil painting on panels but still mixed media. Now I interview young women ages 13 - 25 asking them questions about todays society, how they feel about the Internet, beauty and filters. They write a page about it for my reference. Then I do a photo shoot with them. Taking over 100 pictures before choosing one to paint.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
I was hired as a full time College Professor in 2004. I went from commuting to four different colleges and traveling over 800 miles a week for four years to finally securing a full time position. This grounded my energy and efforts. I almost always paint with my students during class which is both a challenge for me and an inspiration for them. Something my professors never did. I have a studio at home and working there is a completely different vibe. No questions, no starting and stopping; nothing but a complete focus. The outcome and differences in the work always amaze me. That kind of surprise is something I love about painting. Music is also very important for me.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
International exhibitions have broadened my perspective. Having solo shows in the USA; Colombia, South America; Nairobi, Kenya and Moscow, Russia; Group exhibitions Monaco, France, Madrid, Spain; Berlin,Germany and Luxembourg. I consider myself blessed.
How has social media impacted your work?
My new work reflects GEN-Z’s fascination with perfection, social media and beauty. With the use of AI reality becomes lost. Today’s technology reflects twisted “truth’s,” idealized representation and false iconic beauty. Filters are used to change facial features, skin color and erase any aspect of self a person dislikes. By using apps and photographic manipulation as a reference, I am presenting in my paintings both the positive (skin tones and lighting) and negative (teal photographic negative) all at once. Seems funny that that which I didn’t have while going through College, is now an integral part of my work.
Can you share more about the themes you explore in your work?
The use of digital manipulation, and personal connection with my subjects has brought my work to another level. It’s no longer about painting from photographs of children who are outside of my space and life. But now about girls and women I personally know. Part of them appears on the surface and the way I use the paint; their energy, their essence and personality. That personal interaction is priceless. I wish to convery profound emotions through both the figure and surrounding chaos.
Website: www.deborahbarrart.com