Questioning Our Images: The Female Frame

Examination of the image becomes vital in a period of history marked by the smartphone and its accessibility to image and video creation.  Lala Drona inspires others to question the origins of our daily images through her research into topics concerning le regard (the gaze).

Female Frame, 2019, Acrylic on Canvas, 20cm x 20cm

During her appearance at the Bienvenu Art Fair at the Cité des Arts in Paris, journalist and video editor Mathieu Mieleszko followed Lala Drona to document the release of her painting “Female Frame.”  In this video, Mieleszko delves into the artist’s intention behind the painting, and provides a link between her artistic universe and its real-world applications.  His cinematographic style in this video is influenced by concepts behind the piece, mimicking le regard which follows behind the artist during the exhibition.  The style critiques the traditional objectification of women depicted through the male gaze, as women in the video are not simply objects to be seen, but instead look back (appearances by: video artist Jamika Ajalon, and stained glass artist Alison Koehler).   

Lala states that her present work on the female gaze examines “issues in the lack of diversity in the transmission of images and stories throughout history.  Our images predominantly come from creators of the same profile (male, white, heterosexual).  It’s not to say that these stories are not important, it’s to say that it’s time to share the stage.  We want different stories, a broader understanding of the diverse human condition.  And it’s time to bring commonly silenced voices to the forefront.”

Video still from Mieleszko’s film

 Her painting “Female Frame” not only inspires others to question the profile of the person behind our images, but also the corporate and political entities.  “We are bombarded with too many images today, in the form of Instagram, and other social networks.  Advertisers and political campaigns are able to post images at the same level of importance as the images from our friends and community.  The infinite scroll feature facilitates the mindless consumption of these images, and we are only beginning to see the negative effects of this.” 

            Lala Drona intends to create three paintings under the concept of “the female frame.” 

Video editing by Mathieu Mieleszko:
https://vimeo.com/user20455396
Music in video by Sim Hutchins:
https://soundcloud.com/simhutchins
https://simhutchins.bandcamp.com/

Drone Kesabe breaks routine with “Creatures of Habit”

Lala Drona was expected to perform at Paris Lit Up’s magazine release party last week. Instead, Drone Kesabe, an assistant to Lala Drona, was sent to stand in for Lala in her absence.

Once called to the stage, Drone Kesabe explained to the audience that Lala Drona had been held up during her art research. She stated that Lala Drona had been conducting art experiments to find the perfect colour, a color too strong for the human eye, a deadly color: “…Essentially a colour that kills” she said. Lala Drona and her team had some sort of breakthrough, and so she was unable to come to the event.

Drone Kesabe then began to read Lala’s poem to the audience in a low and airy voice:

(Creature of Habit)

These creatures look for the familiar in the unfamiliar. Tell me, why do you put on shoes?  Only to walk with blind feet.  You process a new place based on past processes.  The past with its conquering mentality—in your mind—time cannibalizes itself, past taking present.  Is there a reason you can only see back in time, but not forward?  Creatures of habit, only see what they know, and this is how I come to you “th-th-th-th-th-th.”

Repetition, monotony, boredom, commitment, dedication, loyalty, rigor: you play me over and over, conjuring my face in every note of that song—the song that was playing when the Thing happened.

 I’ll stay with you and tell you what to do, so the Thing doesn’t happen again, you think—

–And I let you know that your instincts are shit, listen to me, I was there, and I’ll keep you safe. 

Creatures of habit, based on a fact, based on a television, based on a story…this only serves to take me with you—in your mind—. 

Perched on your back making nests of knots in your shoulders, making my way to your belly—Let me stay here a bit while you recognize the pattern of that familiar ceiling in the walls of this unfamiliar venue.  The same pattern of where the Thing happened, when you had no control, I came, that’s where we met the first time.

Watch the new patterns, registered by old ones, process, tilt you head back further, further, thaaat’s it. “th-th-th-th-th” stop breathing now because the past doesn’t breathe, and we never left that moment—in your mind—I’m here with you, when no one else will be.  And I’ll never leave you, not if you keep looking…looking for our familiar in the unfamiliar.  Creature of habit. 

Poem “Creatures of Habit” by Lala Drona © 2019

The launch party went off without a hitch while artists, poets and creative-types mixed and popped off celebratory champagne. As for the work Lala Drona is developing behind the scenes, our investigative journalists haven’t seemed to be able to get beyond Drone Kesabe’s statement at the PLU launch party.

Based on a Fact caught up with art trend expert Valerie Cogie who weighed in on the situation. “If we take a look at Lala Drona’s paintings, it’s quite obvious that she’s chosen to express through the grayscale. As stated in previous interviews, this was due to her reaction to traveling the world. She stopped seeing the world in binary oppositions: black/white, right/wrong… and started paying more attention to the in-betweens…the grays. Perhaps, she has reached a point where she wants to start incorporating colour into her painting universe. I’d rather not speculate further on the psychological implications of this.”

–

–

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Radio Interview with a Visual Artist

Lala Drona in her first ever public radio appearance on Beijing International Radio.  Listen to her interview on Touch Beijing 93.2FM, where she explains what it means to be a visual artist today, and how Beijing has inspired her art.  Stay tuned until the end where she reveals her plot for the future.

 

L.D. Times Article: The Blank Canvas, 2017

Lala Drona opens up for the first time about her experience since arriving in China in an exclusive interview with the L.D. Times.  She comments on her new video, due to release next week: “The Blank Canvas.”   A deep and inspiring article that delves into the artist’s psyche.

Click the image below to read the full 6-page spread.

 

 

Lala’s Latest Performance Art

Photos by Yegan Mazandarani (Agence Sauvage)

Lala has sent shockwaves through internet video platforms after the release of her video titled “Lala and Drone #1’s Latest Performance.” Despite media pressure, she continues to plea the fifth when asked to comment on the performance’s legitimacy.

The video begins with photographer Yegan Mazandarani shooting Lala Drona and Drone #1 in their classic black Drone attire and sunglasses. An instrumental version of “We found love” plays in the background as the camera follows the frantic scene into Paris’ Town Hall.  For the main event of the performance, Lala Drona and Drone #1, stand in front of the French authorities in order to merge their assets and forge an alliance in legal matrimony.  After a quick ceremony (and a very convincing kiss) the couple move on to the second act of the performance: signing the documents that legalize their union.  Next, the couple exit their performance to the song “Young, wild and free.”

But did they really get legally married?  As we recall, Drone #1 and Lala Drona have a rocky past.  His breach in Drone Code resulted in his exile from the Lala World,
followed by the gruesome Drone-Muse experiment which inspired Lala Drona’s tryptic Je suis la fin qui justifie les moyens (I am the end that justifies the means).  Since then, Drone #1 underwent a new Drone Reprogramming Procedure, and hasn’t left Lala’s side ever since.  Perhaps Lala has forgiven Drone #1, and this alliance is a reconciliation of all past indiscretions?  This could be the reason why the song “I want you back” by Micheal Jackson also plays in the video.

No sources have come forward in order to debunk the supposed marriage. However, another possibility could be that Lala Drona and Drone #1 legitimately married for art’s sake.  Perhaps the duo is aligning in order to critique the traditional act of marriage as “performance.”

Journalists continue to look for answers, however the officials at Town Hall will not speak to whether or not the wedding was legitimate.  It is possible that Lala could have pulled a few strings in order to create some cheap internet buzz.  Sooner or later, the truth will reveal itself.

Based on a fact.

Tony Jericho, PerformArt Magazine

 

Behind the Scenes look

A behind the scenes look at the rehearsal of Lala Drona’s Art Prison Interview.  To be performed on December 11th at 20h00 at her exhibition opening From the Bed to the Lab.

Lala Drona at Vogue Fashion Night Out

Lala Drona was spotted this week at Paris’ Vogue Fashion Night Out, sipping champagne with DJ Mafe from Maracuyeah.

Lala Drona with DJ Mafe

A little shopping…keeping it baaaad.

Lala poses with fans.

Convicted of Muse Abuse

Do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars.  News just released of Lala Drona trespassing onto private property while faking a personal tour of the Lala Laboratory.  Lala Drona leads an art laboratory where they run experiments on inspiration development and extraction.  Recently, allegations were brought forward staing that Lala Drona had been conducting unethical experiments on Muses to extract thei inspiration for her artwork; “These experiements could only be described with the word “torture,” stated Lindsay Cullum, investigative journalist.

In response to the allegations, the artist invited journalists to her underground layer to disprove accusations of muse abuse and torture.  However, the property Lala was showing had been a front to deflect the media from her real underground layer.  Embarrassingly enough, the authorities caught Lala in the act (as you can see at the end of the tour video) and arrested her on the spot.  She is rumored to be held on seven accounts of muse abuse and trespassing and could be in prison for up to two months before she is allowed to post bail.  The media are currently working with the authorities to unearth the real location of the Lala Laboratory.

Based on a Fact will be the first to let all of you Drones know when Lala leaves the Slammer, but until then, the website will be frozen until all litigations on such a matter are resolved.

Based on a Fact

Lilia Keppler, legal journalist

Preview before official release

Lala Drona releases a preview before the finishing touches on her newest piece.  The piece discovered in the video “Lala in La-la Land” did in fact have a connection to her Sexe Sans Sex series.  Lala, after revisiting some of her old art work, decides to reanimate an old idea by juxtaposing text with art.  Below you will find the song lyrics “My Neck, My Back” by KHIA superimposed on the image of a baby-doll.

Preview of unfinished piece by Lala Drona

Lala’s Double Life: Hand Dancing

“Nice to meet you.  What do you do?”

–“I’m an artist.”

“That’s great, but what do you do to make money?”

Since the beginning of time, artists have been living double lives.  Until they reach success, or when they fall from it, artists must have another source of income.  Though many know of this concept of the artist’s double-life, the media representation of Lala (and many other artists) is one-dimensional and cliché.  However, I (as I’m sure many other Drones) want to know who Lala is behind the media image.  What is her day-to-day, and what does she do when art isn’t paying the bills?

With much investigation, I found that Lala is a teacher!  Surprisingly, not a painting teacher, but a teacher in the Ancient Art of Hand Dancing.  The art of hand dancing has been passed down from generation to generation in Lala’s family, originating in the Amazons of Venezuela.  Some native Amazonian tribes still practice this custom in mating and religious rituals.  Below, a video of a hand dancing performance by Lala Drona herself, music “Stolen Merchandise” by Optomystic.

Unfortunately, Lala refuses to release information about her hand dancing classes.  However, we interviewed several of her past students (all of which would like to remain anonymous) and they say classes are private and confidential.  She accepts students only on recommendation basis, so you have to know someone who knows someone if you know what I mean.

Based on a Fact

Catherine Weller, 22, Student at Florida State University