about LARA SABRINA YILMAZ

Lara Sabrina Yilmaz

Lara Sabrina Yılmaz was born in 2001 in Izmir, Turkey, to a Levantine family of French, Italian, and Turkish heritage. Growing up in a multicultural environment allowed her to discover how art, emotions, and life can be interpreted in various ways across the world. Her passion for visiting historical sites and viewing art pieces grew into a deep love for culture, history, and art, which eventually led her to travel to many different countries. At a young age, she began expressing her inner emotions through playing the piano, engaging in theater, and painting.

Initially, her artwork was only seen by those close to her. However, after the loss of a loved one and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to share her art with the world, hoping to connect with people experiencing similar feelings of isolation and loneliness. Through her art, Lara aimed to reach individuals who shared her emotions during these challenging times.

The central theme of Lara's work is "longing." Her paintings embody the Portuguese term saudade —a deep sense of yearning for someone absent, coupled with the realization that what was once lost may never return. This profound feeling drives her to create abstract art, which allows each person to find their own emotions within her works. For Lara, abstract art is an endless universe where there are no boundaries, and everyone can draw their own interpretations.

Her first solo exhibition, Saudade, reflected the abstract flow of life and the deep impact emotions have on our experiences. With this exhibition, Lara sought to convey the message, "The past is important, but the future holds hope for us." Her work was guided by the question, "Isn't hope the most vital part of longing, love, hurt, and anxiety?"

In her exhibition 35 Numaralı Evin Duyguları (The Emotions of House Number 35), Lara fully merged her feelings of longing with her canvases, deeply resonating with those who have experienced loss. This exhibition combined various visual and auditory techniques, creating an immersive experience that captivated viewers. Lara transformed emotions into a bridge for visual and auditory communication.

In her Zamansız (Timeless) exhibition, Lara explored the harmony and conflict between time and space. She used contrasting colors and materials to highlight oppositions and similarities, offering a unique perspective to the audience. In her first critically reflective exhibition, she invited individuals to confront themselves, merging their reflections with the emotions expressed in her paintings.

Lara made her international debut at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, where her artwork broke through the rigid lines of geometric shapes, creating a thought bubble that highlighted the emotional battle between life and existence. Through this exhibition, Lara shared her abstract world with art lovers from around the globe.