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240 x 120 cm | 94 x 47 in
2009

In RYANbow, Lauterbach masterfully intertwines the tangible and intangible, breathing life into the poignant narrative of loss and remembrance. The juxtaposition of the industrial aluminium frame and weathered cardboard panel not only mirrors Ryan's complex persona but also symbolizes the enduring tension between resilience and impermanence. Through the ghostly imprint of the life vest, the artist transcends mere materials, inviting viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of existence and the enduring impact of those who touch our lives briefly but profoundly. RYANbow serves as a powerful ode to the luminous souls that burn brightly in our memories, urging us to cherish the transient beauty of human connections.

RYANbow is a mixed media collage incorporating an old life vest and its imprint on cardboard, structured across two components: a 1.1m x 0.9m squared aluminium dibond frame and a 13m x 1m cardboard panel. The work serves as a memorial to Ryan, a figure I encountered during my time in Ibiza’s transient, freedom-seeking community. Though not a close friend, Ryan and I shared a brotherly bond rooted in humor and sensitivity. He embodied the island’s paradoxes-a soul chasing healing and connection, yet sustaining himself through selling ketamine. Unlike typical dealers, he carried an aura of generosity, often giving drugs freely, as if the transaction pained him. His death was a shock. After a fight with his girlfriend, he swam into the sea at Santa Eularia’s northern shore, disappearing into the horizon. Rescued briefly by a fishing boat, he screamed “NO” before vanishing forever. This work channels his luminous spirit-his joy, fragility, and the fleeting intensity of those who burn brightly but briefly. Through the life vest’s imprint, I seek to preserve his memory, transforming a symbol of survival into a testament to lives lived on the edge. The materials’ raw contrasts-industrial aluminium and weathered cardboard-mirror the tensions between resilience and impermanence that defined Ryan’s story. RYANbow is my act of remembrance: a plea to keep such souls shining.
