Laura Chaplin: "A day without laughter is a day wasted in our life"

Her smile reveals the mission that she, Laura Chaplin (Switzerland, 1987), feels she has in this world, a mission inherited from her grandfather, the great Charlie Chaplin, ... of which she considers herself an ambassador and which she also defines as "bringing happiness to every corner and laughter through art."

Her smile never fades while she speaks with SUR, and it's because her paintings are being exhibited in Spain for the first time in a show that can be seen until July 17 at the exclusive, newly opened space that Gómez y Molina jewelers in Marbella have inaugurated on Avenida Ramón y Cajal in the city, precisely with Laura Chaplin's work.

A "wonderful match," the artist comments excitedly.

- It's your first exhibition in Spain. What does this event mean to you?

- It feels very good that my paintings are finally being exhibited in Spain. I had my first exhibition in 2011, I have traveled with my paintings all over the world and I am very excited that they are finally being shown in this country and especially in Marbella, in this space where it is very exciting to mix painting with jewelry, an art that goes hand in hand.

- There are 22 paintings here that depict your grandfather, female silhouettes, and horses in a pictorial world that could be described as dreamlike. What do you seek with your painting?

- My paintings are an extension of my personality and my life and they seek to make people feel good, to transmit positivity, that people who see them are enlightened, smiles appear on their faces, and they feel the calmness I want to convey in them.

- And the color blue, why?

- It conveys peace and calm, it's relaxing. I feel it as my roots and I believe it helps to elevate the energy. That's why in these paintings the color blue is important. Moreover, Marbella is blue and its light is fantastic to present my work, in addition to being one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world, it breathes joy and living here draws smiles, one of my goals.

- Your residence is in Switzerland but for some time now you have been splitting it with Vinaroz in Castellón.

- Yes, there I develop part of my artistic side and also my love for horses, which are protagonists in many of my paintings and with which I also do art therapy. I will spend the summer there before continuing with more exhibitions in Germany in the fall.

- You talk about your grandfather with much love and feel the obligation to continue his legacy and expand it. Why?

- My grandfather did many things in his life to make people happier, to make them laugh. I share his view, a day without laughter is a day lost in our lives and I really believe that laughter is the first step towards happiness so I think it is necessary to work on it as he did and continue with his legacy. He had a great influence to impact people and that is very important and necessary even today.

- You have also written a book in which you talk about happiness, your grandfather, and why it's so important to smile. It's titled "Lachen ist der erste Schritt zum Glück," which translates to "Laughter is the first step to happiness."

- I believe in the influence to impact and in this world that moves so fast and where stress levels are so high we need to stop and laugh and that's why I wanted to write this book, so that people who read it, stop, enjoy and laugh.

- Your artistic work focuses on painting but you also create a collection of bags, watches, clothes, and your way of thinking leads you to be a patron of several NGOs globally.

- That's right. Specifically, I work directly with two foundations, one in Switzerland that works on the ground in Colombia, called Moi Pour Toi, providing protection, education, and comprehensive training to vulnerable children and adolescents between 4 and 18 years old. And the other NGO I collaborate with is involved with sustainable cotton in Africa, with the protection of nature, with organic farming and raising awareness of caring for the planet and is called Cotton Made In Africa. It's very important for me to do this work, it fills my heart.

- Finally, Laura, encourage SUR's readers to visit your exhibition.

- Well, everyone can go to see the exhibition, there are no limits to anything, just wanting to enjoy it and feel its light.