Lawrence Naff

While in college studying interpersonal communication, Lawrence admired the rhinestone covered MP3 player of another student. This led to his discovery of the contemporary Japanese craft of Decoden - the practice of decorating electronics with jewels and embellishments. He was intrigued because it fused his fascination with geology (especially crystals) to his love for electronics.  A trip to Osaka to learn the skills of Decoden from a friend intensified his practice.

To create these glimmering mosaics, Lawrence meticulously glues thousands of crystals, rhinestones, and found objects onto the surface of two and three dimensional forms. The work requires extreme patience but the results are relaxing and kinetic. Often the rhinestones surround a central gemstone or piece of vintage jewelry and cover the entire surface. Similarly colored items are clustered together and natural minerals are placed alongside man-made crystal.  

As an IT professional, Lawrence has access to a large supply of computer components to incorporate into his work. In so doing he feels he is fighting their forced obsolescence. Also, by juxtaposing man-made and natural elements, his art intentionally questions whether they are as separate as we assume.

Lawrence may wake up with a design in mind or inspiration may arise from seeing something as simple as a root or tentacle. He also finds inspiration in architecture, video games, and horror films. Most of his work is meant to convey a mood. However, if a message is present, it will usually be implied in the title. For example, his 2017 piece, The Illusion of Inclusion, highlights how the marketing campaigns of many organizations and corporations tout their diversity when, in fact, it’s often nonexistent.