Photography is central to LUAP’s practice, placing The Pink Bear within real landscapes, architectural spaces and encounters with people. Created on location rather than constructed digitally, the images bring Performance, environment and psychological narrative together within a single moment.
Working across remote natural landscapes, cities and unexpected settings, LUAP uses Photography to explore memory, identity, vulnerability and human connection. The contrast between the surreal presence of The Pink Bear and the reality of its surroundings creates images that move between humour, isolation and emotional ambiguity.
While Photography can become the starting point for later Paintings, the works stand independently, forming an evolving visual record of The Pink Bear moving through different places, experiences and states of mind.
Nikon in conversation with LUAP and Heather Agyepong
As part of Life Lines, The Bottle Factory hosted a panel with multi disciplinary artist LUAP and Nikon Ambassador Heather Agyepong, moderated by Nikon marketing director Julian Harvie. The conversation explored how photography can shape self perception, support creative expression, and open up honest discussion around mental well being.
What Was Dark Has Become Light, And What Was Light Has Become Dark
I Used To Be A Polar Bear,
2020,
C-Type Print,
184cm x 123cm,
Photography
The fire dances in the dark shadows of the forest bringing light and warmth. The final fragments of daylight melt away into the encroaching silhouettes of the trees. What was light has become dark, and what was dark has become light.
Unrealistic Expectations,
2020,
C-Type Print,
60cm x 180cm,
Photography
A female figure is styled and posed as a doll alongside LUAP’s Pink Bear, creating a surreal image that explores beauty, identity, performance and the construction of appearance.
Unrealistic Expectations,
2014,
C-Type Print,
40cm x 60cm,
Photography
She lay on her back in the forest. The dark leafy canopy directly above. She opens her mouth to scream, but instead of sound escaping from her mouth, large clouds of white smoke billow from her mouth filling the forest.
A 6am start & the team of 53 was pumped & raring to go...Vanessa Von Tain arrived fresh as a daisy in her Rock 'N' Roll outfit. Louise Thompson in her rose gold tipped trainers. We all scrambled into Starbucks for a caffeine fix, before turning it into a makeshift beauty salon. We then moved to Sketch.
