Drawing and painting with combinations of traditional and contemporary media including PVC, drawer bases, make-up, permanent marker, wax crayons and Chinese ink and incorporating approaches based on direct observation and / or spontaneity, ‘identity’ and its many facets remains a theme which I am compelled to investigate. Past explorations have included the physical appearance and perceptions of the self, the emotional experiences of fulfilling or insubstantial sexual relationships, the emotional challenge of juggling the artist / tutor role, and the psychological experience of the art-making process.

The most recent body of work embraces the observational tradition of life drawing to investigate various issues surrounding the preconceived notion that nakedness is the most natural and ‘shroud–less’ state. The result is monochromatic nude self-portraits produced with Chinese ink on rice paper, based on images of mirrored reflections. The absence of a ‘human head’ reinforces a protected identity – only by knowing the above fact or self confession, is the viewer in the know that this body is that of the artist. In these works, the body is subjected to a re-examination and investigation of its potential attractiveness from a personal perspective in the light of this claim having been made by a significant other.

Pressure (detail) 2005, Acrylic, paper, marker pen, soft pastel and recycled teaching documents on plastic, 52 x 52 cm
Beautiful Negative Intricacies 2005, Fine liner pen and acrylic on plastic, 52 x 52cm
Shroud – less, 2006, Chinese ink on rice paper, dimensions unavailable

E: emma.long@bankley.org.uk