Laura Hanson

Warning

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Since its conception in 2020, this body of work has undergone many transformations—from Hindsight to Forced Witness and now to its latest iteration, Warning. Each name has reflected the shifting cultural, political, and personal landscapes that inspired it. Warning marks a new era—a venture into the uncertainty of 2025, where the contradictions and hypocrisies of those in power loom larger than ever.

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This series speaks to a world where the same oligarchs who vilify marginalized communities—LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and others—simultaneously exploit and worship their creativity, media, and music. It is a reflection on the hypocrisy of systems that condemn while benefiting from the very cultures they seek to erase. From debates over banning platforms like TikTok, a lifeline for 170 million Americans, to its sudden salvation at the eleventh hour, Warning captures the exhaustion of living in a world where decisions that shape our lives are dictated by self-interest and power plays.

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Meanwhile, the same leaders who claim to support families take actions that undermine them at every turn. They would rather legislate away platforms of expression than address the ongoing crisis of gun violence. They extol the sanctity of family while stripping away healthcare options from women, exposing the hollow promises and blatant contradictions in their rhetoric. These actions are not just policy decisions—they are reflections of a broader erosion of accountability and empathy in governance.

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This era also carries troubling echoes of the past, reminding us of the patterns of fascism and Nazi Germany, where oligarchs and leaders manipulated media, culture, and fear to maintain control. The behaviors we witness today—idolizing power, suppressing dissent, and marginalizing entire communities—mirror those seen in Europe nearly a century ago. We truly have not learned from history because too many choose to ignore it rather than understand it. This series seeks to confront that denial, challenging viewers to grapple with the weight of these historical parallels and their modern implications.

Warning follows the same intuitive formula that guided Hindsight and Forced Witness. As a mixed media painter, I find myself through the act of creation, allowing the work to emerge organically rather than adhering to a predetermined plan. This process is rooted in observation and instinct, reflecting the chaos and unpredictability of the times we live in. Each piece is an exploration—a response to the world as I experience it—and serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability required to navigate these uncertain moments.

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Through this work, I aim to illuminate the weight of these contradictions and the fatigue they inflict. My paintings are not just a record of events but a call to process, resist, and endure. They serve as a reminder that art is a force for reckoning—a tool to navigate the chaos and a means to confront the hypocrisy and injustice of our time.

As we step into 2025, Warning signals an urgent need for vigilance and resilience. It is both a reflection of our collective exhaustion and a beacon for those seeking clarity and truth amidst the noise. This body of work asks us to look closer, to question deeply, and to act boldly in the face of uncertainty.