Laura Vernaza
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Laura Vernaza (Chile, 1989), featured in AQ Volume VI, holds a B.A. in Arts from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2013). Her photographic practice explores the boundaries of the medium through the creation of timeless images. By capturing fragments of urban contexts under natural light and omitting identifying details, she constructs abstract, contemplative works that transcend specific time or place.
She has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions, including: IX Concurso Artespacio Joven 2024 (Galería Arte Espacio, Santiago), 435 Días (MomoRoom, Mexico City), Premio MAVI UC LarrainVial ARTE JOVEN (MAVI, Santiago), Elevar (Galería NAC, Santiago), Still Less (EKHO Gallery, Santiago), Artefacto (Casas de lo Matta, Santiago), Premio MAVI, Minera Escondida (Museo de Artes Visuales, Santiago), and Cartografía de un paisaje urbano (Museo Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna, Santiago).
In 2013, she completed an artist residency in Havana, Cuba. Her work has also been shown at art fairs in Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and forms part of private collections in Chile, Mexico, Argentina, the U.S., and Japan.
She has received several distinctions, including second place in the IX Concurso Artespacio Joven 2024, third place in Artefacto (Casas de lo Matta), an Honorable Mention at the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) 2024, and was part of the Official Selection at the International Photography Awards (IPA) 2024 in the Night Photography category.
Her work has been featured in various media, including SAATCHI ART: “The World’s Leading Online Art Gallery. Photographs Sure to Catch Your Eye.”
www.lauravernaza.com
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
I’ve been connected to art since childhood—painting from a young age and surrounded by creative influences like film, photography, and design. Art felt like the perfect way to combine all my interests. I fully committed to this path when I realized that artistic limits are often self-imposed, and breaking them opened endless possibilities.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
My work decontextualizes real-world elements—like buildings or natural forms—to create timeless images free of identifiable context. In my recent series Ostentatious Darkness, I explore what lies behind the luxury gourmet market, focusing on the harvesting of elvers in the Dominican Republic. These nearly transparent baby eels are considered to be in critical condition in many regions. The images depict fishermen working at night with only a green net and flashlight, chasing a catch worth nearly €1,000 per kilo in Europe. It’s a contrast between economic survival and opulence—where only a few live in ostentatious darkness.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
Exploration and experimentation are a constant part of my process. I never stop testing and creating—I think of it as a sport. Once I find something I like and want to repeat it, that’s when the real work begins. I focus on achieving what I envisioned and replicate the strategies I used to reach that result. Then comes the decision-making stage—what stays, what goes, and why each of those decisions matters.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
Even though photography is often seen as a way to document a moment, place, or event, I don’t want my photographs to be recognized by the territory depicted. Instead, I hope they invite viewers to interpret various messages when observing them. In this way, I encourage people to move beyond immediate recognition and discover new things hidden beyond what we usually see. This is where concepts like limits, horizons, and time come into play in my work—suggesting the constant boundaries we impose on perception.
Share a mantra or a favorite quote that keeps you going.
I’m not sure I have a specific mantra, but something that really helps me is gratitude. Being thankful for the good things, no matter how small, keeps me grounded.
