An After Nyne 12 Exclusive: Emma Elliott's Reconciliation
Emma Elliott is a British artist whose central concerns are the incongruous and hypocritical aspects of humanity. In her work she explores the relationships between the refined and the primitive, the physical and the spiritual, the influences of our collective past on present behaviour.
Emma was classically trained in painting and figurative sculpting both in the UK and Florence. Her excellence in craftsmanship and technique is matched by a fearless questioning of ideologies, religion, ancient and modern society – the universe.
In the context of inhumanity and hypocrisy, an underlying theme at the core of her work, Emma was compelled to create a work with a unified message inspired by two seemingly divergent yet iconic historical milestones; the Holocaust and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A visit to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem left Emma disillusioned with mankind. She was determined to create a piece of art to express this frustration. “Making art is the best ventilation, it’s meditative in that way. It is also a means of contemplation and asking questions. I don’t want the final work to be so subliminal that it becomes unreadable, even though a bit of ambiguity can make it more interesting. Ultimately I want to make work that creates dialogue”.
Emma is a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and her practice is rooted in traditional techniques. Having lived in Italy and studied portrait painting and figurative sculpture at Charles Cecil in Florence, Emma wanted to return to Italy to create the work out of Carrara marble in reference to Michelangelo’s Pieta. The resulting sculpture combines Emma’s fascination with spirituality and human history and her aptitude for figurative symbolism.
The title “Reconciliation” was inspired by this Hegel quote: “Beauty contains ugliness, just as Truth conceals lie, and for Reconciliation to take place, Beauty and ugliness must be Reconciled into a concrete unity, that is a higher form of Beauty, which is also Truth”
Despite the work having obvious references to Christian and Jewish history, the sculpture is not to be interpreted in a purely religious context. Its core theme is relevant for people of any or no faith.
“Reconciliation” explores the perpetual extremes, ironies and contradictions of human behaviour and encourages viewers to learn from history, and also to not define themselves by their personal tragedies or perceived victimhood or their even their past. To live in the present. To be here now!
The exhibition aims to create a space for interfaith discourse around these core ideas. The work responds to the need for an antidote based on a message of forgiveness and liberation which today is more relevant than ever, as society faces a Global epidemic of inhumanity and indifference.
At the core of the exhibition is the 50 kilo marble sculpture itself, yet “Reconciliation” is much more than one inanimate object. The exhibition further encompasses the screening of a short concept video that documents some of the artist’s journey from inception to producing the work. In addition there is also a full length interview with Eliezer who lent his tattooed number to the project. This video documents his personal journey to Auschwitz, his movement between concentration camps and ultimate liberation. Most importantly, he shares his inspiring attitude to survival.
Emma’s long term aim is to extend the project into a travelling exhibition inviting international galleries and museums to support existing educational programmes to encourage discussion, distillation and dissemination around the core message of “Reconciliation”.
Meike Brunkhorst
LONDON
2rd Dec 6pm-9:30pm
Open 9am-6pm 3rd and 4th December
NOHO STUDIOS
46 GREAT TITCHFIELD STREET
LONDON, W1W 7QA
NEW YORK
A+E Studios (http://www.aestudiosny.com/)
Pv 6pm-9pm 28th February
Open 1st March-1st April (Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-6pm,)
160 West Broadway (between Thomas & Worth)
Ground Floor New York, NY 10013