Original Art Piece

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Acrylic, ink, marker and conte on canvas.

40x48x0.75"

The definition of boundless is to be unlimited; immense. Is this a word you would use to describe your life? It isn’t one I used for myself in the past, but I am trying to change that. At least, I would like to change the way I think about my potential, my goals, my dreams (which are all extensions of me as a person) and consider those to be boundless. To imagine that there is infinite possibility for my dreams to shift in any direction is freeing, even if it’s intimidating to put into practice.

The limitations we put on ourselves hold us back. We are our own worst critics, succumbing to false beliefs that were planted in our subconscious that make us feel small, incapable and scared. But false beliefs are just that - false! Our insecurities are not real, they’re just limitations we set so that we have an excuse not to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. But guess what? It’s so exciting to step out of that comfort zone, even in a small way at first.

This painting is about the paradox of trying to live in a state of boundlessness (possibility) but constantly deferring back to the false beliefs we tell ourselves that result in confinement (limitations). The fulfilling possibilities that are available to all of us in our work, our relationships and our goals become easy to imagine if we open our minds to the potential we have. And yet, we still find ways to diminish our goals because we think we don’t deserve to dream that big.

In order to communicate the intention to live without boundaries through this painting, I created several “windows'' that represent miniature galaxies. Each one appears like a portal through the canvas and represents a vast, boundless darkness. This darkness seems foreboding and eerie; there is something terrifying about vastness and openness (especially in space!). But the vastness isn’t meant to be intimidating, amidst the darkness there is always light to be found, like the stars, the moon, the sun, the planets.

This painting is a reminder to think big, to reject the tendency we have to limit ourselves mentally or physically; to expand our minds and hearts beyond our wildest dreams, but to also remember to stay focused, to stay humble, to stay grounded. I am learning that it is possible to do both at the same time. To be able to imagine my life as boundless and full of possibility is a hopeful and exciting feeling. It’s ok to be scared of your own potential - getting what you’ve always wanted can seem scary at first because it requires you to take action and accountability. But that’s ok. Take action! Hold yourself accountable for your own life! Don’t let your imaginary limitations hold you back. Dive into those mini galaxies with an open heart and you just might surprise yourself. It’s time for a boundless mindset!

This painting is part of the Out Of this World collection from 2021.

Tania LaCaria (Canada b. 1985) is an Italian-Canadian artist. She holds a BA in Fine Arts from York University (2006) and a CIDA advanced diploma in Interior Design from Sheridan College (2009). LaCaria launched her residential interior design consulting firm in 2005 and has since traveled the world extensively, gathering inspiration from various cultures and countries where she’s lived, namely in Latin America and South East Asia. Her travels have always influenced her work in art and design and continue to be an important source of inspiration for her. She returned to Canada and settled in Hamilton in 2016, where she currently lives and works.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

LaCaria’s work explores paradox - the idea that two opposing realities can exist at the same time - with a focus on themes based on gender, sexuality, social structure/class systems, body politics and relationships, often presented in an Abstract Expressionist aesthetic. LaCaria’s mission in life is to form meaningful connections with others, and she does this through her art.

As a conceptual artist, LaCaria thrives in a state of curiosity, eager to ask questions of herself and the world around her during her creative process while admitting she doesn't have the answers. Her background in Interior Design blends seamlessly with her love for visual arts as LaCaria spent the majority of her professional life as a solutionist for her clients. Now, as a full-time professional artist, LaCaria is eager to share her curiosity with others by producing thought-provoking work that prompts viewers to ask questions about themselves and their life experiences.

In order to ensure viewers make an emotional connection to her visual works, LaCaria exhibits and presents her work alongside her poetry, her preferred method of story-telling, to provide additional context to the motivation behind her creative decisions. Her creative process has been described as ‘performative’ with an emphasis on the deep introspection, vulnerability and social observations she is making that are often juxtaposed by the playful, “fun” and seemingly light-hearted way her often brightly colored work presents to viewers.