About Me
- Emma Saunders Creative Works
- I would say i place more emphasis on how people react and engage with my work as opposed to a final finished piece. I like to use my work as a ‘catalyst for conversation’ setting up situations where people are faced with socialising and communicating. Whether that is a Tea Party, Gardening Club, or sewing workshop, i find appropriating social forms keeps your hands busy, relaxes your mind, keeps anxieties at bay, and naturally progresses towards conversation. The nature of my work activates the viewer, hopefully engaging them. Providing me with a participant to work alongside, and making us into a a collaborative team. The realisation of this means that i can never predict the outcome of the work, and also makes it very susceptible to change on an hourly basis due to the involvement of others. As a creator of these 'situations' it can be exhilarating, exhausting, nerve-wracking, and stressful, but the buzz and atmosphere created is a just reward for the roller-coaster of emotions each piece produces.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Ok, so yes its appalling i have not written for so long, but with moving house, changing jobs and getting used to two young children (no i have not just had twins, but am an au pair instead) its been a little hectic. Anyway this lack of time has also affected my creative pieces and yesterday was the first time i finally managed to sit down and put pencil to paper and start to draw, since i finished my degree. It was only some small studies of Heather that i had picked up whilst walking the dog, but all the same it felt good, and it got me past that dreaded first blank page in my new sketch book - handmade by yours truly of course! I will try and post some photos soon, but in the mean time happy creating!
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Visiting the Tate Modern
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/burkeandnorfolk/default.shtm
The other day Alex and I went to the Tate modern to go and view the Burke and Norfolk exhibition titled Photographs from the war in Afghanistan. This was always going to be an emotive subject for the pair of us as Alex has previously done a tour with the Territorial Army.
Norfolk the present day photographer, was reflecting on Burkes original photos taken (i think, i will check) in the late 1800.
The comparison was clear and i felt that the photos showed progress within the country particularly in the context of equality and the things women and children are now allowed to take part in. For example there is now a women's basketball team and girls are allowed to go skateboarding. These are the type of things that resonate with Alex and i suppose give him a sense of achievement and reason to the things he has experienced and the conflict he faced when he carried out his tour.
However the view that Norfolk put across was rather pessimistic, and he viewed the conflict as something that has happened before many times, will happen again, and just causes 'the murder of innocent Afghan's' with no progress being made and no valid reason for this to be happening. For Alex i think this was one step too far and it did seem like Norfolk was poo-pooing the brave and courageous work that not just Alex, but all soldiers have put in. Something which i felt was rather inappropriate and ignorant.
Everyone has their own views on conflicts such as the one in Afghanistan, and Art offers the opportunity for people to express themselves and their own views, but where is that line where things become indecent to show or inappropriate? Is their one when it comes to Art? If there is, i'm not sure where it sits.
The other day Alex and I went to the Tate modern to go and view the Burke and Norfolk exhibition titled Photographs from the war in Afghanistan. This was always going to be an emotive subject for the pair of us as Alex has previously done a tour with the Territorial Army.
Norfolk the present day photographer, was reflecting on Burkes original photos taken (i think, i will check) in the late 1800.
The comparison was clear and i felt that the photos showed progress within the country particularly in the context of equality and the things women and children are now allowed to take part in. For example there is now a women's basketball team and girls are allowed to go skateboarding. These are the type of things that resonate with Alex and i suppose give him a sense of achievement and reason to the things he has experienced and the conflict he faced when he carried out his tour.
However the view that Norfolk put across was rather pessimistic, and he viewed the conflict as something that has happened before many times, will happen again, and just causes 'the murder of innocent Afghan's' with no progress being made and no valid reason for this to be happening. For Alex i think this was one step too far and it did seem like Norfolk was poo-pooing the brave and courageous work that not just Alex, but all soldiers have put in. Something which i felt was rather inappropriate and ignorant.
Everyone has their own views on conflicts such as the one in Afghanistan, and Art offers the opportunity for people to express themselves and their own views, but where is that line where things become indecent to show or inappropriate? Is their one when it comes to Art? If there is, i'm not sure where it sits.
Monday, 30 May 2011
A mad dash to prepare...
This week has been crazy trying to sort everything out ready for the degree show, but... i think i have cracked it! All the plants are in, walls are white, and there is not a spec of soil in the wrong place!. I think it is looking quite peachy and apart from the last finishing touches like my pamphlets (which i am making tonight and tomorrow morning) and seed packets which i have just noticed a spelling mistake on (Bother!), i think its finished!
My assessment is 4pm on wednesday, so all being well, these little touches will be done and i can just relax and think abut how i want to express my thoughts towards the Sowing Seeds piece.
Keep you posted!
Em
Contact
For further information or if you would like to ask Emma any questions, you can email her on: emma.saunders@students.plymouth.ac.uk
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