Visually Arresting Abstract Artist Laurie Jiobu Gets Into the Swim
Swim. Get inspired. Paint.
The Olympics have a way of universally inspiring many of us to push harder and faster, or just stay in the game. With the 2024 Paris Olympics beckoning, abstract artist/performer and inveterate swimmer, Laurie Jiobu has been thinking of possibly competing again, along with expressing her love of being in the water by painting visually arresting images — from ocean-related images (“Currents,” “Point Reyes,” “Huntington Beach”) to lap swimming (“Flip Turn,” “Sprint,” “Butterfly”) and just sheer exhilarating images (“Happy”).
Jiobu recently watched the Young Woman and the Sea on Disney, starring Daisey Ridley (Rey in Star Wars), which tells the remarkable true story of Gertrude Ederle who was the first woman to swim the English Channel. Jiobu notes, “Apart from her awesome Channel achievement, she also swam in the Paris Olympics in 1924. I thought the movie captured the feeling of someone who loves being in the water.”
And, that aptly describes painter Jiobu, who talks up her love of happily splashing in the water.
— Why do you have a fascination with the water, what inspired you to paint about experiences in the lap pool and in the ocean?
— I have loved being in the water since I was a kid. It feels like home. It fascinates me because there’s the distinct difference between standing on terra firma and being enveloped in an aqueous environment. It’s about the contrast between moving my body in a vertical position to pushing water behind to propel myself forward horizontally. There’s usually a distinct change in the temperature between the air and water. One’s breathing pattern has to be timed. Then there’s the sheer amount of energy that must be exerted. Lap swimming can present challenges with improving one’s technique and times or it can be meditative. I always feel better after swimming because of the physical and mental health benefits. Swimming in the ocean, which I started when the pools closed during the pandemic, is challenging and scary because of the unpredictability of Nature. I continue to learn to surf, which makes me acutely aware of the overwhelming energy of waves. Overall, water gives me a sense of freedom. And, that inspires my art.
— How has the experience influenced specific paintings?
— A USA Swimming coach recently gave me a correction for my butterfly. It was a revelation. It was like the sky opened up for me — so, I painted “Butterfly.” Then, during any one-hour workout in a 25-yard pool, you might do 80 flip turns. It depends on your speed and which strokes you’re doing — so, “Flip Turn” was born. Then, inspired by the Olympic trials, I started working on my dive off the block recently. I always loved to sprint. So, now I’m thinking about competing again. We’ll see — and, I painted “Sprint.”
— How do you compare the sensations of lap to ocean swimming?
— Overall, a considerable amount of energy is generated by water currents caused by swimmers in a pool and by Nature in oceans and rivers — I’ve painted a series of images called “Currents.” A thing about doing specific strokes is that when you do the backstroke, one perk is looking up at the beautiful sky in the pool or ocean — “Sky” is self-explanatory. One other thing about the pool, I swim hundreds of laps in the pool every week, and I almost always enjoy the challenge. A common misconception is that a lap is from one end of the pool to the other. That’s a length. A lap is a round trip, like a full circle on a running track — And, so the “Swimming” series came to life.
— How are the Olympic swimming events inspiring you?
— The Olympic Games presents the opportunity to witness what the human body is capable of doing. I enjoy watching swimmers, and this caliber of swimmers inspires me to improve my technique and to work harder. I have to remind myself, though, these are a very select group of athletes. I always think about the athletes who missed out on making the team or the podium by 10ths of seconds and give them a hearty nod of recognition for their hard work and sacrifices.
— What else do you have to say about your water themed paintings?
— In my paintings about swimming and the ocean, I want to share the exuberance I feel moving through water. It’s all about the joy of movement for me. When I was younger, I was a dancer. Now I’m a swimmer. And, sometimes, when I’m swimming, I’ll start grinning just from the sheer joy of being in the water — “Happy” says it all.
— One more thing, how have your paintings helped others?
— A generous donor bought my painting, “Blue Swim Cap,” at The Swim with Mike Foundation event at USC, recently. All proceeds go towards college scholarships for physically challenged athletes. Having personally received scholarships from the Irvine and Ahmanson foundations while a graduate student in the dance school at CalArts, I know how much this can mean for fulfilling a dream. Now, as an avid swimmer, I’m happy to lend a hand to other athletes with the donation of my painting. Thank you to the winning bidder.
Check out Laurie Jiobu’s website, and her Instagram and Facebook pages.
