Joseph Lawrence - "Two Walkers Passing House"

Joseph Lawrence

I am an outsider. As a gay man, I am part of the larger culture but also separate from it. I am an observer. I am naturally introspective. I am a "baby-boomer." My work that concerns itself with some of societal changes that have happened in my life since the fifties and sixties. For several years I have been interested in what is called “Outsider Art” along with exploring various issues that are important to my cohorts who came of age in the Sixties and Seventies. Many of us have reached the stage in life where one reflects on the choices one has made in the past. I have decided to symbolize this retrospection and anxiety about the future with images using of houses, roads or paths for the progress of a person’s life. In literature, this theme is well documented in books such as “Pilgrim’s Progress,” and “The Divine Comedy.” It was also a popular theme in many 19th Century board games. In addition, I am interested in exploring the connection between memory and perception. Memories can be manipulated and become more subjective over time. When I use distorted perspective, it is meant to convey a sense of something incompletely remembered and convey a sense of instability or flux. The themes in my work may suggest a narrative. Usually, there are several secondary themes as well. Ideally, I would like to stimulate the viewer to create a story for himself about the work and affect an emotional response in the viewer. Though the themes in my work may change, I continue to be fascinated with paintings based on the human figure that explore various human relationships. Joseph Lawrence