Lala’s new series: egomania or altruism?

“Geeden” by Lala Drona. Inspired by blog article found here.

After the completion of “The Breast Series” and the series “Sexe Sans Sex,”   Lala presents her upcoming series The Lala World. This series is inspired by the fan blog “Based on a Fact” where fans and journalists release fictionalized updates on the artist’s adventures.  Each article on the blog is written with a bit of truth mixed with lies.  Lala has decided to begin painting this world to create a mirror effect, reality reflecting the virtual and visa-versa.  The artist has decided to unite all forms of her artistic expression (painting, creative writing, photography and video) and is committing artistically to this new universe.

Critiques question if this is simply proof of the artist’s extreme self-involvement.  The first two paintings depict the artist almost religiously: In the piece titled Beecoming Lala she is depicted as queen bee, and in both of the new pieces, there is a halo around Lala’s head.

On the other hand, some critics ask if this new series is a grand gesture of selflessness…an attempt to create an alternate world in which other creative-types can co-exist.  “If the world’s rules don’t fit you, create your own world,” Lala stated during an exhibition interview with L.D. Times.

“Beecoming Lala” by Lala Drona. Inspired by the image found on the blog website background.

Whether this is an act of egomania or altruism, Drones and Muses everywhere stand strong, awaiting the artist’s upcoming projects.  What’s to become of Lala Drona this year?  Keep following as she spreads her wings and continues to recruit Drones and Muses from all around the world.

Based on a fact

Notorious Art Thief Lala Drona Alleges New Works Are Hers.

Photography © 2014 Richard Beban and Paris Play

The enigmatic cult figure Lala Drona emerged from Paris Art Prison last night, head shaved and clad in a simple blue smock, blinking owlishly through round sunglasses at what may have been unaccustomed light. Whether her detention was in total darkness, or featured any other CIA-inspired activity, no one is saying. She was surrounded by black-clad, mostly male followers she calls drones, but whether for her protection, or for ours, was unclear.

According to an online fanzine, https://basedonafact.wordpress.com, which purports to tell some version of truth, Ms. Drona was sent to prison for art theft (la ladrona means “the art thief” in Spanish) because she had no original ideas, thus stole those of others.

Her performance last night (which continues through Saturday and Sunday) features new paintings that stem from her prison reeducation experience; they are, she claims, based on her own ideas, as they came to her in her bed, a large photograph of which decorated the gallery floor.

The new paintings deal with the theme of “Sex Without Sex,” a sort of artus interruptus, in which the climactic moments have been obscured, even redacted, or from which a partner has disappeared. The latter images may stem psychologically from the difficulty she claims to have with muses, which she goes through the way a sex worker goes through Kleenex. She is purportedly under investigation for Muse Abuse.

Lala Drona’s world remains visible only through Sunday, each evening at the Duo Gallerie, 24 rue du Marché Popincourt, 75011 Paris. She is recruiting more drones and muses at each performance. You have been warned.

Based on a Fact.

Text by Paris Play 

To see the Paris Play Album of Lala Drona, click here.

Below, a sneak peek of the exhibition From the Bed to the Lab.  Camera work by Drone #1.

Shutupi Origins

Despite  Lala Drona’s squeamish attitude towards the media, there are still an impressive number of images of her released.  Surprisingly, almost ninety-five percent of these images come from the same source.  We’ve seen his name in the media, his photos of Lala, but who is the man behind the camera?  Based on a Fact investigates.

Shutupi (formerly Shutupi Sutaki) is a Japanese photographer with a missing index finger.  Coming from the Sutaki family, a family of famous calligraphers, Shutupi was the only member in history to deny his calligraphic duties and follow a “calling.”  

Legend says that Shutupi was never gifted in the art of calligraphy.  As a teenager, Shutupi spent most days practicing calligraphy with his best friend and cousin Beradon’na. During a boating accident, he saved Beradon’na, creating a Purotekutā, or protector. According to Sutaki family code, one is indebted to their hero, destined to live out the rest of their days protecting their savior, until the savior decides to release him/her.

Beradon’na and Shutupi discovered the camera at the age of sixteen.  From that moment on, Shutupi craved to see the world through the eye of the camera, or as he calls it, his “Chokkan” (third eye).  Of course the Sutaki family did not tolerate the artistic digression, and forebode the use of the apparatus.  One night, Shutupi’s father found him photographing the family’s work, a heinous crime under the Sutaki family code.  His father showed no mercy when disciplining his son. In a fight to protect Shutupi, Beradon’na was killed by her uncle.  Shutupi’s father then amputated his son’s right index finger, forevermore thwarting Shutupi’s attempts to take pictures (in the conventional way).

After eight years in the shadows, Shutupi appeared again in France in 2012.    Shutupi met Lala through mutual friends in the art community and was instantly enchanted.  It was then that he began to take pictures again.  Following Lala’s growing army of Drones, he stumbled upon and joined a team of paparazzi also looking to infiltrate the emerging community of art alter-egos.  The interest between Lala and Shutupi was reciprocal and Lala too began asking questions about the photographer’s past.

Lala already aware of the Sutaki family code, and the concept of the Purotekutā, invited Shutupi to dinner, where she poisoned his food with toxic berries. As he bordered death, Lala nursed him back to life.  Forty-eight hours later, Shutupi woke up to Lala Drona rubbing his stomach, now destined to live out the rest of his days at her side, or until the day she releases him.

Shutupi Origins, Based on a Fact