Lauren Baker: The Artist and her Practice

Lauren Baker, born 1982, from Middlesbrough, UK. Currently lives and works in London. She is a British contemporary multidisciplinary artist who exhibits internationally. Her work explores human connection, metaphysics and the expansiveness of the universe. 

The artist’s free spirit has seen her travel the globe in the pursuit of her research of the cosmos for her artwork. In 2012, Baker followed her calling to tailor a new life for herself after reading Eckhart Tolle’s ‘The Power of Now’. Baker first journeyed to Brazil and joined a mosaic street-art project. During her time in South Africa, the artist next travelled to the Peruvian Amazon, where she took part in ceremonies with shamans surrounded by the vibrant wildlife and dense vegetation. Baker claims it was here where she experienced an epiphany that her calling in life was to be an artist.

Following her inspirational new path in life, Lauren researched the best place to study mosaics in the world and travelled to Venice to further develop her skills. In an exclusive interview with Hancock Gallery, Baker recalls her time in Venice as the most beautiful place she’s visited and remembers her time there fondly. 

Baker later specialised in site-specific installations following her research and exploration of mosaics. Her talent and genius in this field is exhibited in works such as her Al Ula Desert Installation (2020), standing at 4 metres tall in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. 

“This sacred desert with Megalithic rock formations amongst glistening starry skies are a perfect setting for my artworks inspired by the cosmos.”

The creation of ‘Frequency of The Sun (126.22), 2020, was informed by frequencies of the Sun and the Moon. The surface pattern of the sculpture was formed  using experimental software taking a segment of the visual frequency of the Sun, which is 126.22Hz, and morphing this into a sphere of amorphous shapes to represent the movement of the Sun. Commissioned for the UNESCO protected desert in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, the visual frequency of 210.43Hz (the frequency of the Moon) inspired the ‘Frequency of The Moon (210.42Hz), 2020, installation. The artist created a huge sphere of light with lines of neon. The exterior sphere contains 30 mirrored fins edged in neon light on the front and the back for a 360 light experience. The internal armillary sphere was made with a mirror surface for optimum infinity light reflection. Both inner and outer spheres were designed with transparent elements for the viewer to experience the art and its environment merging. The armillary sphere consists of a spherical framework of rings, centred on the Sun, that represent lines of celestial longitude and latitude and other astronomically important features.

Lauren’s curiosity of the world’s vibrations and unseen energies continues to be explored in her work presented at Hancock Gallery in a beautiful collection of Limited Editions: Auric Fields. In celebration of Lauren’s peaceful way of life and spirited enquiry into energies and frequencies, we’re delighted to have teamed up with Ocean Zen, a local non-profit specialising in holistic therapies. 

The specialists at Ocean Zen have visited our space to assess the vibrations and allowed the energies of Lauren’s work to help them carefully curate the perfect mini oasis of tranquillity at our event on 23rd July. 

‘Transdimensional Auric Field’ is one of three limited editions inspired by the seven chakras and a person’s aura. 

“Your aura is an extension of you. It is the energy field that surrounds your body. This artwork was created with spiritual energy in order to lift the vibration of the room and everyone in it.”

Inspired by the seemingly radiating colours bleeding from the hand embellished centre circle of the work, the Reiki Master of Ocean Zen chooses to incorporate work centred around Reiki healing which focuses on cleansing a person’s energy. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a "universal energy" is said to be transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing.

Other works available in Lauren’s collection, such as ‘Xenos Sun’ inspired the practitioners to include crystal healing into their workshops. Aside from the dazzling black Diamond Dust the artist hand embellished on the piece, the piece represents the infinite source of unique light flourishing at the very core of our being. 

“The exterior reveals itself to be within, and what once seemed alien is now native; it is Xenos Sun.”

Join us to experience Lauren’s work in a unique way to view exceptional art. On 23rd July, Hancock Gallery is excited to host a mini holistic retreat right in the heart of Newcastle, with local non-profit Ocean Zen, our event will combine holistic therapies, relaxation and of course, the beautiful new collection of works from Lauren Baker. 

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