Luna Umber

Mar 31

Through her work, contemporary artist Luna Umber has set out to reconnect with her inner self and find creative freedom in the power of “now”. Using earth as her medium, her works represent an introspective study of herself, her relationship with nature and the endless circle of life.

If you are invested in Luna’s work please email all enquiries to the artist through her Instagram page @naked.emptypool.and.inkwell

About

““Soil, trees, and rocks are what’s beautiful. Without question, they’re simple and tower over anything produced by people, no matter how skilfully made,” wrote Yun Hyong-Keun in his diary on July 10, 1990 – I couldn’t agree more.” - Luna.

A dominating part of Luna’s body of work is dedicated to the series titled No Sin Beyond The Earth through which she employs natural materials such as earth, clay, wax and charcoal to form abstract compositions. These works address the need to let go of external turmoil, to anchor yourself in the present moment and find peace in surrounding nature. “Working in the flower field and using earth as a medium fills my heart with joy – everything that is needed in life is already here and that’s enough”- says Luna.

“I love to put my attention to the most simple and seemingly insignificant objects, like pieces of wood, stone, handful of earth, flowers and bird signs, and I love to see myself react to that with joy and peace that surpass understanding. It helps me stay present in the moment and remind myself that the beauty is not outside. It is always in you. This is a dramatic shift in my own consciousness, since I have a strong business background, with many fashion and design projects behind me, where the statement “not enough jet” is your day-to-day reality.

I believe this is what my paintings are about. To liberate. And I liberate myself first. I am willingly reducing the materials I am using to the ones I could basically find in my own backyard, to let the essence of the elements shine. I am willingly pointing out the basics of our existence as a human race. What if we take it for granted? What if a seemingly insignificant handful of earth is the most significant asset which connects us all? I don’t enforce beauty but I leave room for a viewer to question his own ability to find beauty within.”

Many of these materials also carry for the artist a greater meaning, as they are found in our own biology like carbon. In this respect, her work studies an inevitable circle of life, our interconnectedness with Earth and even history as she employs charcoal – one of the earliest materials to be used in art. There is also a personal link to the artist within these works as they reflect on her journey into herself and represent limitations and dirt that she had to work through to find her strength.

Her recent work is a series of photographic Self-Portraits. Depicting herself mostly nude with a covered face, these honest and open self-representations speak of her self-rediscovery, her journey and self-irony. It is this series that arguably visualise her self-reflection most vividly. Capturing herself in various environments that are intentionally unsound and absurd, Luna perceives herself as temporarily lost, but aware of it and accepting that it’s okay to be.

“My self-portraits are an essential part of the series No Sin Beyond The Earth. I believe it is my natural curiosity that brought me here. What remains when you meet yourself - an unveiled, undressed human being? I don’t focalise on erotism in this series, instead, I use my body as my tool. My basic tool. I am letting go of everything which is unnecessary to allow my own essence as a human being shine through. The same essence which shines through the earth in my paintings. The sameness which meets and recognizes itself during different stages of life. I feel, and that is very important to recognize.”

Bio

Luna Umber has an impressive background in business, as well as fashion and design. Having recently moved to Portugal where she takes inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty, she has picked up her intrinsic passion for art which she claims to have always been “a natural part of me”. Her work addresses Earth, nature and her poignant path to herself.