BEA LAMAR
Painting of a path descending stairs towards light, surrounded by ancient cedar and pine trees in the Levant. By artist Bea Lamar. quoteLET YOURSELF BE SILENTLY DRAWN BY THE STRANGE PULL OF WHAT YOU REALLY LOVE.    IT WILL NOT LEAD YOU ASTRAY. Rumi

WELCOME

”LET YOURSELF BE SILENTLY DRAWN BY THE STRANGE PULL OF WHAT YOU REALLY LOVE.

IT WILL NOT LEAD YOU ASTRAY."

Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī جلال‌الدین رومی

SACRED BREATHS

CURRENTLY ON VIEW AT SGA AT EMORY UNIVERSITY

9/14/2024-4/30/2025

DSCN9795.JPG

A Luminous Meditation on Presence

Inlux

Exploring the Boundaries of Folds and Form

ANCESTRAL LAND

 

This body of work dives into pressing socio-political issues, with a particular focus on immigration and borders.

|||||||||||

From the poignant challenges of climate migration to the complexities of borders and statelessness.

|||||||||||

This body of work dives into pressing socio-political issues, with a particular focus on immigration and borders. ||||||||||| From the poignant challenges of climate migration to the complexities of borders and statelessness. |||||||||||

Mirage I

Scrying Border Wall Mirror (Part of the Borderless/Borderline Series 2016-2024)

August 2023.

Wood, Aluminum, Mirror, 11 Stainless Steel Tableaux, Polymeric film, Mica Pigment. 27.75 in. x 22.5 in.

This series explores movement and displacement. At its core are varied mirror-like materials and distorted reflection surfaces, acting not just as mirrors but as portals. These surfaces, reminiscent of ancient divination tools, invite viewers to see beyond themselves, prompting introspection into hopes for a brighter future. The artworks echo the aspirations of those seeking better horizons and underscore the challenges of border crossings. Beyond the visual, the series highlights the resilience of the human spirit against inhumane treatments and unjust conditions. Like a desert mirage, it simultaneously entices and critiques border policies and their shortcomings.

No Way Out

Caged

Film Still

A photograph of a dominant iron gate, leaning imposingly against a galvanized steel wall. At its base, in a seemingly inhospitable environment, resilient plants break through the cement—defying the odds of their surroundings.

Gate #7

Building the wall (Part of the Borderless/Borderline Series 2016-2024)

Installation
"Gate#7: Resilience at the Threshold", this piece showcases a dominant iron gate, leaning imposingly against a galvanized steel wall. At its base, in a seemingly inhospitable environment, resilient plants break through the cement—defying the odds of their surroundings. In a stark yet inspiring display, plants audaciously push through concrete nearby— a metaphor for inaccessible resources amidst crisis. For climate migrants, driven by floods, blights, and other disasters, even the bare minimum often remains painfully out of reach. This piece juxtaposes the unyielding spirit of nature against the harsh, restrictive realities faced by those seeking refuge, challenging viewers to ponder on our collective, bounded vulnerability amidst global climatic upheavals.

An aerial view photograph of a canvas of footprints overlapping and shoesimprinted in a multitude of directions.

How Far Is Too Far

2018 - 2023

Our journey begins with a step — a leap into the unknown, an odyssey into the vast expanse of uncertainties. What propels us forward? It could be anything — the choking grip of war, the devastation of natural disasters, the parched throats from relentless droughts, or an escape from the labyrinth of other unimaginable horrors.

We shoulder our burdens, clutch our most precious closer, and take that step. We step forth, driven by an intrinsic belief that we, as earth's children, have every right to partake in its gifts — to drink from its rivers and find solace in its fertile lands. With each step, we echo the thousands of footprints imprinted by our ancestors across millennia. Yet, our steps are unlike theirs — our paths marred by man-made demarcations, our journey punctuated by barricades that rise like monstrous aberrations against the sky.

In the unyielding harshness of deserts, beneath the unforgiving blaze of the sun, we trudge on. The punishing thirst becomes a relentless adversary, and the human cost of the journey rears its ugly head. The tall metal border — a symbol of division and deterrence — becomes a towering precipice we must conquer. A single step, a hazardous leap, and we transform into the 'fallen steps,' a grim testament to our determination.

As we step forward, we inch closer to oblivion, our footprints are swallowed by the sands of time and the vastness of the barren landscape. Steps that once symbolized progress morph into epitaphs for those who dared to dream. These are the footprints of the small feet that didn't find refuge, of the brave hearts that didn't reach safe havens.

Yet, despite the harsh reality of our journey, we step forward — driven by hope, haunted by despair, carried by sheer will. We take each step, not as a mere motion but as an assertion of our rights, an embodiment of our resilience, and a tribute to those who've walked before us. For each step is a testament to our collective human experience — of trials and tribulations, of dreams and despair, of survival and loss.

#NODAPL

Photo Collage, Standing Rock Sioux Series 2016

Confined: Absence Speaks Yoga Choreographie

Confined: Absence Speaks Yoga Choreographie

 

"The quest for light is the quest for understanding." Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi


Illuminations

In the series 'Illuminations,' I aim to reflect on a conversation that has spanned centuries. This work draws from the study of early Abbasid astrological theories, particularly the significance attributed to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions and their role in shaping terrestrial events. And seminal texts and illustrations of the Islamic Golden Age: Al-Biruni's 'Kitab al-Qanun al-Mas'udi' informs its astronomical precision, Ibn al-Haytham's 'Book of Optics' shapes its insights into light and perception, Al-Farabi's 'Al-Madina Al-Fadila' provides a vision of social harmony, and Al-Khwarizmi's 'Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala' lends mathematical discipline. These venerable sources give life to my digital installations. Imaginary silk lines bend our perceptions, as real-time astronomical data transforms static Islamic geometric patterns into dynamic sequences.

While maintaining the classic folds and formulas, I introduce layers of new vibrations, and imagery. The aim is to echo both celestial movements and ancient cosmological principles. Through my sketches, I explore the universe's divinity and interconnectedness, employing mathematical and physical principles to illustrate angles and geometric folds that symbolize these cosmic qualities.

While the series may appear as an exploration of the heavens, it is equally a reflection on our earthly lives and interconnectedness. It poses the question: could our social complexities serve as a terrestrial mirror to our age-old celestial pursuits? are we each our own unobserved universe? This inquiry is akin to ancient philosophies and spiritual traditions like Sufism, which posit that the self and the cosmos are inseparably connected. Thinkers like Rumi have eloquently explored this symbiosis between individual and universe.

The question also aligns with existentialist thought, suggesting that our unique, subjective experiences might make us inherently unobservable universes unto ourselves. It's as if each person embodies an enigmatic realm influenced by their observations and experiences, while remaining fundamentally unknowable to others.

Even quantum mechanics lends credence to this thought, reminding us that particles are in a state of probability until observed. This principle magnifies the inquiry, implying that our very act of observation becomes a defining aspect of our personal universe. So, as 'Illuminations' navigates between celestial wonders and earthly intricacies, it also underlines the importance of our role as observers or witnesses. Our acts of witnessing or observation don't just document what is out there; they may very well define what exists in our own subjective universes.

 

Ancestry ties us to ancient traditions and wisdom.

𒋾

As caretakers of Earth, we honor the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors and heritage.

𒋾

Ancestry ties us to ancient traditions and wisdom. 𒋾 As caretakers of Earth, we honor the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors and heritage. 𒋾

ENVISIONS

 

During the isolation of the pandemic, the familiar trails of Hahamongna in the San Gabriel Valley – the heart of what we call the 'LA Forest' – underwent a profound transformation. Bereft of our footsteps and voices, nature reclaimed its space. The trails that had once been clear and predictable became a tangle of new growth. Every visit revealed more surprises: a canopy of song from birds that once had to compete with human-made noises, unexpected blooms from plant life, and the graceful presence of wildlife that seemed less wary of an occasional wanderer.

It wasn't just the visible changes that stirred something within me. It was the deeper, more intimate connection with the land, as though the ancestral spirits of the place were making themselves known in the absence of modern distractions. These once-familiar trails now felt like passages to another time, connecting me not just to the land's present, but to its past and the countless generations that had walked here before me.

In trying to capture this feeling, my art became more than just a representation; it was a conversation. I delved deeper, using the very essence of the forest in my work. Plant and flower dyes became a medium, allowing the vibrant colors of the forest to tell their stories on my canvases. Tree fibers and bark introduced texture, giving a tangible feel to the memories of my treks.

This sketchbook series is a chronicle of a journey, both internal and external. Through explorations and digital interpretations, I've aimed to encapsulate the profound bond I felt with the LA Forest during this unique period. It's an ode to nature's resilience, its deep history, and the eternal ties that bind us to our environment and ancestors.

These pieces, rich with nature's essence and ancestral undertones, have become a pivotal cornerstone for my artistic journey ahead. Not only have they captured a transformative period in my life, but they've also established a reference library that I constantly consult, a wellspring of inspiration for my ongoing explorations. Drawing from these experiences, my current endeavors reach further into the intertwining narratives of nature and human lineage. The textures, colors, and emotions captured in these series serve as constant reminders and guideposts. They inform my work and perspective as I delve deeper into broader canvases. It’s an evolution of sorts; an organic growth from seeds sown during those introspective days in the Hahamongna, now evolving into a new body of work.