Empathy

From the artist, Emily Strong: My figurative landscapes invite contemplation of physicality through meticulously painted fleshy compositions. I create raw, intimate spaces that explore the many complexities of physical relationships; with the self and with others. This series is an inclusive celebration of humanity and form.

Unconditional acceptance is a central theme in this series. The compositions do not shy away from rolls or folds; rather it lingers on them, gently guiding the viewer through the topography of the forms. By celebrating the beauty of these attributes, I hope to show that these are not features to be ashamed of or disgusted by, but treasured as part of being human. By focusing on these vulnerable moments and not including any other objects, background, or personal identifiers, it invites the viewer to consider the body exclusively within its own context. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and laid bare without the influence of outside context, we are able to see the commonalities between us.

The tangled limbs and corpulent hills create a bewildering landscape, challenging the viewer to try to decipher how many figures are present, what parts of the figures they are seeing, and what genders may be represented. This ambiguity allows my work to raise the question: does gender have to play a role in how we view a figurative work of art? By using tightly cropped compositions, it limits the opportunity to project certain learned assumptions about the subject based on their biological sex or most other features that would lead to quick stereotyping. It frees the subjects from whatever roles they may be put into based on perceived feminine or masculine traits, age, nationality, etc. The body is free to be viewed without being hastily categorized and dismissed, which in turn invites a more nuanced exploration of the subject.

This series has evolved to include another layer of connection between viewer and subject. Each new painting includes a written companion; a transcript of an interview conducted with the subjects of these paintings at the time that I take reference photos of them. These interviews give my subjects a voice in the process and the platform to express their own experiences with their body and with how society and the people they know challenge or support the way they physically exist in the world. The subjects are kept anonymous, but their words hold the power to relate with viewers who may have experienced the same thing or who may have never considered the effects certain words or actions may have on someone who they previously considered unimaginably different from themselves.

About Emily Strong: Emily Strong was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1992 and received her undergraduate degrees in Fine Art and Psychology from Moravian College (today, Moravian University) of Bethlehem, PA in 2015. Strong works predominantly in oil on canvas, exploring representational figurative and natural works. In addition to her personal studio practice, she has worked as a freelance mural artist, curator, collections archivist, and artist's model. She currently has her studio in the Dery Mansion in Catasauqua, PA.