Lucien Shapiro
Art Through Meditation and Healing
Prospecting Self Mask
Pyramid Studs, Resin, Amethyst, Spikes, Quartz, Love , Depth
9.5 in x 7 in x 6.5 in. 2017
The process of creating is reminiscent of the cleansing and healing nature of meditation for artists across the globe. This ritual of molding your vision into the world is a characteristic found in those who were born with the fire in their hearts to create. Art is a lifeblood, an essential element, and a vital aspect of being a healthy member of the world. With such an intimate process comes the natural ability to be in sync with oneself, therefore mental health is usually tied directly to an artist’s work and their ability to create. Artists maintain their delicate equilibrium throughout life by being able to express themselves through the meditation of their craft.
For California-based artist Lucien Shapiro, creating is a way of life, and in its own way, a form of meditating. His countless hours of dedication to his craft, the time spent in touch with his thoughts, and his ability to actualize emotions into powerful creations gives his work a star-like shine. One glance at Lucien’s catalog and it’s clear that art is a profoundly unstoppable force within himself. During our written interview he wrote, “creations just pour out of me, and making work has never been something I have struggled with.” Having such a rich connection to his artistic ability allows Lucien to create a variety of sculptures and pieces that carry very spiritual tones. His pieces often reflect healing qualities, linking to themes of mental health and the importance of positivity in human existence. He expands upon already existing items with new objects, such as the pieces found in his protection collection where he fits knives, shanks, and other tools with healing crystals. His creative process is sparked by his love for found objects, a lot of Lucien’s work is built off of items he finds around the world. Lucien has an eye for purpose, harboring a unique ability to redefine what’s possible by bringing his ideas to life. There is no sense of limitation or ceiling to what he can craft with his intuition and the materials around him.
Lucien’s art feels like a collaborative effort between himself and the objects he uses. Much of his work incorporates innumerable amounts of found items such as bottle caps, wire, metal, rocks, crystals, and discarded things that most people would see as meaningless commonalities. What separates Lucien from those who would throw away a bottle cap is his ability to see the power that objects can have for a person’s mental health when given the proper attention, “I believe crystals can be used for mental health, in the same ways as a leaf or a bottle cap. It is the power you give it that makes the healing manifest.”
While Lucien has been a working artist for the better part of 18 years doing gallery shows, exhibits, and other big projects, his love for collecting things began when he was just a young kid filling his pockets with whatever he could find, “I have been collecting rocks and minerals since as long as I can remember. My mom said as a child I always had pockets full of rocks and each one had a purpose.” To this day Lucien uses minerals from his childhood collection in the bats, batons, shanks, and knives of his protection series which usually feature healing crystals and other natural materials. He deliberately uses such elements to breathe new life into the objects he works with. Setting healing crystals onto tools allows his work to radiate with a positive aura, serving as protection for those who seek it.
Finding meaning within the seemingly meaningless is just one of the many qualities of Lucien’s art that makes him shine. He believes that items are given whatever purpose we choose, and by reimagining the meaning of a rock, he can create something special, “I think relearning what things are is something I try to work on every day. Like that chair is a chair only because someone named it that and told you it was for sitting. Ya know?” These sentiments are shown across his catalog, manifesting within just about everything he creates.
Lucien’s art touches upon themes of self-love, acceptance, mental health, spirituality, and so much more. His work illuminates a deep connection with his soul as there is a spiritual lining to just about everything he makes. This diversity and range of emotion often paints stellar depictions of the human condition. To Lucien these themes are as much a part of himself as they are to the cosmic, he often says that his inspiration comes from remnants of past lives still lingering in his being. In our interview, he wrote, “The place it comes from I assume is through past lives, worlds, and other places that I am still learning how to tap into.” Lucien’s natural ability to create is what allows him to bring to life so many physical representations of his emotions, soul, and life experience.
Tapping into worlds beyond our own gives Lucien’s art a radiance, unlike any other artist. Work like his seems to serve as a spiritual remedy not only for him as a creator but for those who support him. He explores the challenges and conditions of human life with an incredibly diverse imagination. This well of energy can feel divine when observing his art, and Lucien believes himself to be a conduit for his creations, a sort of middle-man who brings the work to life, “Most of the time I feel as if I am just the channel that the piece is being created through. I will not know what I am creating until it is finished and then I also am aware of its function or purpose. Each piece is a journey into further discovering self.” Journeying out past the known, and reaching into emotions such as these heals Lucien, it is essential to his life. In our interview, he reinforced the effect that art can have on mental health, how for some it is necessary, and for others, it is not, “Art heals me, but I am not sure I could recommend creating it for everyone...just looking at art can be incredibly healing, as making it can. But we cannot have the light without the dark.” The balance of life is ever-present, there’s a meditation taking place with every detail of his art. This is the beauty of Lucien's mind, his work and process have become a study on what we hold precious as human beings, he reveals the comfort, power, and love in things that others have not. Creating work that can't be ignored, and that will not be silenced.
Photo by Shaun Roberts
Even though he holds a separate practice for strictly meditating, Lucien’s process has a lot of meditative aspects. With such intricate and time-consuming projects, creating offers a silent and focused time of self-reflection for Lucien, “During these actions, I am mainly inside my head and only left with my thoughts and silence. The act of being alone with your thoughts in silence is a form of meditation.” All of the aspects of Lucien’s artistic process echo the ritual nature of meditation. The collecting and sorting of material, tens of hours spent creating, and time spent with himself translate into all of his work. The meditative nature of his craft blooms an intimate connection with his emotions and the world around him, making each piece special and powerful in its own way. People of the modern world look to artists who can relate their lives and situations to art. Lucien writes, “I think like all artists we channel what we are feeling and going through in our lives, or what we see happening in the world. The conclusion of the piece is that energy. None of it is realized during the process. It just is.”
Over the past year, the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically uprooted people’s lives across the globe. Staying healthy from the virus has been tough, the consequences of quarantine and lockdown have been dire for the mental well-being of thousands. Mental health has surfaced to the forefront of many conversations for those who found themselves in a new normal they were not prepared to deal with. Countless face new challenges in their lives which often lead to forms of isolation, anxiety, depression, and more. The future has been uncertain for so long and the need for a consistent balance has become a necessity. Now more than ever people are searching for something to hold onto.
While he's been working as an artist for the better part of his life, Lucien’s work finds new meaning amongst these uncertain times where people are seeking help through art. His creations have the capability of providing a genuine sense of understanding that we all can do better to protect and heal ourselves. His supporters can find solace in his work knowing that he creates from a place of love and encouragement. It is hard to not feel the weight of Lucien’s creations, there is an undeniable sense of optimism in his crystal bats, barbed wire roses, and protection shanks. Everything he makes feels like a driving force of love.
Lucien’s artwork is heavily intertwined with the energies of life. His work reflects a lot of balance, meticulous craft, and careful attention to detail. There is a deep sense of spirituality involved with how he creates, a sort of meditation in his process. His art is a physical embodiment of himself, it “is my mental health” he says. He has an incredible way of naturally channeling the emotion others seek and share, weaving forces of the human condition with the energies of the natural world, creating one-of-a-kind pieces that speak volumes on the shared experience of life.
Article written by Shane Hurley
Curated by Celeste Honey
Curators Note
When we think of the possible connections between art, healing, and meditation we typically go straight to the idea of music or poetry. But words are not the only form of artistic expression in which we can find comfort. Lucien Shapiro’s work and practice are perfect examples of how we can morph our spirituality with physical objects and installations. When first going over Lucien’s work I was immediately drawn to crystals and objects of protection. The morphing of these knives, daggers, and bats with healing crystals, such as obsidian and quartz, creates an intricate play on physical and spiritual modes of securing internal safety. From the Obsidian Prayer Club to the Golden Key of Protection, the theme of being spiritually shielded by the presence of crystals is consistent. This fascination led me deeper into the archives of his practice.
I then discovered his mask and portal work, which led me down a rabbit hole of fascination in his ability to take everyday discarded objects and create intricate masks and portal displays. When I initially saw the masks I was very much drawn to the continuation of the themes present amongst the knives. The Circling Sacred Ash floor installation, as well as the Awakened Protection Mask, are some of my favorite examples of Lucien turning seemingly meaningless items such as bottle caps and pull tabs into pieces carrying so much positive energy. Transforming forgotten items into magnificent sculptures of healing and protection gives new life to Lucien's work.