Lauren Baker discovered the spirituality of totems while connecting with shamans and taking part in ayahuasca ceremonies in the Peruvian Amazon. She left a corporate life in the city and became an artist, making pieces that speak to environmental issues, unity and female power. ‘‘ I like the tradition of totems being a gathering spot for ceremonies and a place for community meetings .’’says Baker. Her textile Earth Totems were exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery last autumn; she sees her own ones as potent spiritual symbols. Her Luna Woman Power Totem, made from metal and LED lights, stands 3.5 m tall and is positioned in Palmers Green, Enfield, where in 1914 a group of suffragettes held a landmark meeting campaigning for the right to vote.
Text by Harriet Quick
