Emma Koller

“What is your favorite artwork?”

Curatorial Rationale

My body of work explores the interconnectedness of the natural world and the nature of

humanity. My intentions for my exhibit were to allow the audience to interact with the art

physically and emotionally in the same manner as humans and nature do. However, for logistical

reasons this was hard to achieve completely. In exploring my theme I brainstormed and

experimented with all the many ways an artist could interpret and display this concept. I decided

to aim each of my artworks at a certain smaller subject matter from this relationship between

man and nature. I wanted to make my audience consider their own implication in the conceptthat each of my artworks presents.

My main motive when creating and curating this body of work was for my audience to

feel the connection I explore. I thus predominantly made 3D forms of art because I felt they

made a creator impact on the audience. I utilized concepts of light in many of my artworks to

play with natural phenomena and capture the audience within my artworks. Therefore, my

exhibition is centered around the projected piece titled “Here and Now”. I begin the exhibition

with my sculptures which encourage the audience to view the artworks from all sides and take

their time walking through my exhibition. On the wall behind these sculptures are my 2D

artworks that the audience can move through, creating a 3D exhibition in which the audience can

move both forward and backward instead of just left to right. The purpose of this dense set up is

to encapsulate the viewer within the artwork, thus connecting the viewer with the art around

them and evoking emotional responses.

A personal passion of mine is traveling. I sought to utilize my experiences of traveling,

attention to detail, and other elements of what I had learned in class. Drawing from my journeys,

I've honed an acute attention to detail and an innate sense of observation. These qualities have

become tools in my creative ideas and creations. With meticulous precision, I aim to weave

together elements from my travels and classroom learnings, crafting an exhibition that not only

captivates but also educates.

My foremost intention is to provoke introspection among the audience, inviting them to

gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Through immersive installations and

thought-provoking displays, I aspire to ignite a sense of reverence for nature's intricate beauty

and unwavering resilience. At the heart of this endeavor lies a central ethos: we should not be

taking advantage or taking for granted our environment, we should learn to thrive alongside it.

By instilling a profound understanding that we are not mere inhabitants but custodians of the

Earth, I aspire to catalyze a collective realization that our survival hinges upon nurturing and

thriving alongside the ecosystems that sustain us.

Emma’s Art Work

  • What is time to us

    Acrylic on Clay

    10.16cm x 10.16cm x 15.24cm

    A ceramic lantern whose purpose is to protect the light within it while projecting the beautiful shadows of the light that shines through it. The composition of cutouts creates the shadow of a forest when in the dark, symbolizing the protective effect and attachment humans develop with trees much like the dependence and protection of the candle light from the lantern. The compositions of color on the outside of the lantern show the dynamic colors of each season as time passes.

  • The beauty of death

    Acrylic on Clay and Real Flowers

    20 cm x 5 cm x 7cm

    This sculpture, inspired by Yui Ishibashi’s nature sculpture collection, depicts the interconnectedness of nature and humans through the biological nature of the life cycle of all living things. The sculpture is made of clay and dried flowers. The color scheme balances different shades of white, beige, and red, symbolizing pain with beauty. The figure laying down is depicting a decaying corpse of a deceased human. The purely white flowers sprouting from the body add a sense of beauty and rebirth to the corpse. Thus symbolizing the intricacy and connection between all, in life and death.

  • What lives in the ocean

    Trash, wire, and hot glue

    27cm x 21.5cm x 6cm

    Inspired by Diet Wiegam series of shadow sculptures, this sculpture utilizes a variety of unusual materials and a play with light and shadow to compose a sculpture of trash who’s shadow creates a whale. This sculpture utilizes trash/junk specifically in colors of blue, white, green, as well as the particular type of trash found floating in the ocean. This emphasizes the connection between the trash that humans have let invade the ocean habitat of beautiful ocean creatures such as the whale that is depicted in the shadow behind the sculpture.

  • E = mc2

    Acrylic and Gel Pen on Canvas

    76.2 cm x 45.7 cm

    Acrylic painting, inspired by Lars Stenchly, a German instagram artist, is aimed to portray how the human understanding of mathematics and science has brought us means of understanding natural phenomena, as well as a pathway to connecting closer with the world around us. Utilizing vibrant colors, subtle yet simple white details and a broad perspective, this artwork encapsulates this idea, immersing the audience into the scene.

  • Here and Now

    Watercolor and Acrylic Paint on Cloth

    182.88cm x 152.4cm

    Influenced by my obsession with sunsets at every destination I have traveled too. For this artwork my intention is for my audience to experience the beauty and peace of such a scene. The vibrant colors, prominent texture, and large size of this piece is meant to place the audience within the scene as if they were experiencing it as well as feeling the effect of the amplified colors. The purpose of this artwork is to allow the viewers to interact both physically and emotionally with the scene; feel free to gently touch the artwork.

  • She puts her clothes on my body as mine

    Yarn

    45.72cm x 31.48cm

    This artwork inspired by Karen Ballard titled “50-years of Flower Power” is a freeform crochet piece to make an average shirt. This piece goes to symbolize the care and protection as well as the ability to express yourself and thrive in our human nature society thanks to what is provided by nature. Basic colors are used in various forms, sizes, and arrangements to give the top depth and life.

  • Man Made

    Photography

    20.32cm x 30.48cm

    Motivated by observations from my backyard, this artwork explores the dynamic interplay between modern technology and the enduring force of nature. Through a juxtaposition of man made objects and organic elements, the exhibition delves into humanity's reliance on nature. From the raw natural photography of small overlooked details, witness the distinct contrast and ponder: while we depend on nature, nature thrives independently, reminding us of the true strength of nature.

  • Lost in Space

    45.72cm by 29.21cm

    Motivated by watercolor artist Michał Jasiewicz’s work, this is a scene depicting an astronaut lost in space. Striving to display the emotions of loneliness and wonder, through an intentional focal point, balance around the astronaut in the center, and rich dynamic colors. All incorporated, this painting captures the vast beauty of outer space as well as the reality of humanity's hopelessness without what we call home: Earth.

  • From the ground to my head

    Real flowers and Pen on Paper

    40.64cm x 50.8cm

    This composition inspired by Elżbieta Wodała’s flower paintings depicts the significance of hair to one’s identity, yet also how the natural environment is composed in that identify through their hair. The color scheme in the natural elements of this composition reflect the figures character and emphasize the expression, creating a balance through the composition. The bright variety and texture-full composition of the hair accents the initial message of the significance of hair.