What I found was the residents were hiding their true-selves, and within every home are lives made up of routines, relationships, gossip, crimes and more. This discovery fascinated me; we often dismiss or ignore the importance of the stories in front of us because they are a part of our everyday lives. I focus on these hidden tales - dissecting the histories and truths behind them and why they always seem to fall to the wayside of the mundane. I fabricate miniature scenes/sets based on these kinds of anthologies; utilizing memories, rumors, history, imagination and the visual aesthetics and languages of films/television. Stories of, or about individuals are important because as more come together they form a history of a place, object or even another person. Through my work, I hope to understand why we are all consistently drawn to, live in, and accept these stories and structures; ultimately, looking for what truly lies beneath the facade and what really happens within.
Lua Kobayashi
Claremont Installations: On North Harvard Ave
Wood, acrylic, glass, projector, model material
"Through my practice, I am interested in the stories behind everyday objects, places and people, with which we all believe we are familiar. Growing up in a perfect suburbia, showed me what was considered 'normal,' was truly anything but. The residence within the town chose to show the ideal versions of themselves - smiling faces and facades but the truth was below the surface. I have found these threads due to my position as an outsider. I do not fit the regimented set of rules laid out by those who identify as “normal”; being a minority physically and inwardly.
I began using miniature plastic figurines and building sets for 'The Claremont Chapters' photography series to illustrate the town. Each scene is based on a rumor, news article, or police report of an incident within my hometown, Claremont. Each set was taken and photographed on the site where the event occurred. Within every home and behind every closed door, there are lives made up of memories, routines, relationships, gossip and much more. We all share these common bonds with our homes and the communities around; I hope to understand why we all have these stories and continue these structures."
– Lua Kobayashi
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About the artist
Lua Kobayashi
What I found was the residents were hiding their true-selves, and within every home are lives made up of routines, relationships, gossip, crimes and more. This discovery fascinated me; we often dismiss or ignore the importance of the stories in front of us because they are a part of our everyday lives. I focus on these hidden tales - dissecting the histories and truths behind them and why they always seem to fall to the wayside of the mundane. I fabricate miniature scenes/sets based on these kinds of anthologies; utilizing memories, rumors, history, imagination and the visual aesthetics and languages of films/television. Stories of, or about individuals are important because as more come together they form a history of a place, object or even another person. Through my work, I hope to understand why we are all consistently drawn to, live in, and accept these stories and structures; ultimately, looking for what truly lies beneath the facade and what really happens within.
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