Emma
My exhibition aims to highlight the beauty, strength, and sensuality of women while acknowledging the social and cultural context in which they existed. Many of my artworks celebrate women during the art deco movement, exploring how they were represented and perceived by society during this time. Overall my vision is to challenge societal expectations and show the viewer that women have always been integral to human history and culture. I have worked with 2D techniques using photography, drawings, painting, mixed-media and also sculpting, a combination of traditional art deco techniques, and modern interpretations. Ultimately, my artwork is a tribute to women throughout different eras and an affirmation of their continuing relevance and importance in our world today.
The theme of Art Deco and women has been a significant influence on my artwork, particularly in terms of how women were represented and celebrated during the economic era. My artwork is informed by extensive research into the social and cultural context of the movement and the work of influential artists such as Tamara de Lempicka, whose striking portraits of powerful, glamorous women provided a key inspiration for my painting “Rosary”. “Rosary” was my first piece exploring different techniques, size, and mixed materials; such as the beading seen on both the cross and necklace of the women.
In creating my artwork, I made careful decisions about the overall body of work, striving to create a cohesive and meaningful collection that speaks to the rich tradition of Art Deco while also presenting a unique perspective on femininity and womanhood. My artworks were often based on photographs that I stylized by working with minimalist, dramatic lines, and using materials such as beading, feathers, plaster, acrylic, and gold accent. I create pieces that are once bold and nuanced, playful and sophisticated. The use of beading allowed me to add dimension and real details to certain elements of my piece, drawing attention to particular areas of my artwork. The gold accents help to underline the sense of sophistication and luxury inherent in the Art Deco style. My cast sculpture “undone” of the female figure displays simplified forms so the viewer focuses on the details such as the body profile and details of the tie in the bodice. Through my artwork, I seek to create a unique and engaging celebration of women that speaks both to the past and the present, reflecting both the timeless beauty and relevance of its core themes and ideas.
The arrangement of my exhibition aims to make the audience feel as though they have entered a room of powerful feminine energy. There are two entryways into my exhibition giving two possible perspectives, the main door gives directly to “step in” with the projection of the movie Citizen Kaien. Once the viewers walk in onto the red carpet and turn to heads to the left there is a display of my more geometric and stylized pieces such as “ In the blues”, “undone”, “flower cluster”, “Femme Eclatante”, “all in the eyes”, “half a rose” and “at rest”. These are all colorful and playful interpretations of women juxtaposing with the right side where a darked more realistic piece “ carnival dancer” is displayed on its own with a dramatic effect seen across the position of the woman's body, the feathers, and the beading. Finally when viewers turn around to walk out they are struck by “rosary” , a beautiful display of femininity seen across the silk like dress and the natural forms and curves of the women's back. The red carpet enhances the dramatic feel of my exhibition as well as holds the representation of power, strength, and beauty correlating back to my main objective with my work. Having a good balance ratio between hanging work, ceramic, and plaster pieces aided in creating the universe I want my audience to step into.
My work seeks to expose the enduring influence and appeal of this iconic style, while also exploring the nuances of femininity and the female experience. The throughout details give a sense of elegance, femininity and sophistication. My intention for the audience and their experience when viewing my work is to visually represent different forms of femininity and how they are seen and affect one’s everyday life.
Step In (December 2022)
Paint on Plaster
Dimensions (130 x 35 cm)
“Step In” is inspired by Niki de Saint Phalle’s extravagant sculptures of women. The concept of non wearable - wearable art was curated by a mixture of Thierry Mugler’s design and Saint Phalle’s work. The piece represents a woman tapping into her femininity and powerful side, changing the way she's perceived in society, seen through the delicacy of the fabric and the structured form of the dress. Instead of covering up and hiding a woman's natural forms, the dress accentuates and enhances them.
undone (December 2022)
Acrylic and fabric on plaster
Dimensions (52 x 31 cm)
“Undone” is inspired by the concept of non-wearable - wearable art was curated by a mixture of Thierry Mugler’s design and Saint Phalle’s work mixed with the theme of the Art Deco. This piece represents the shield a woman wears and the undone backing represents the potential vulnerability and fear women constantly carry behind their backs. The pieces show both femininity and power through the delicacy, rawness, and life-like look.
