Emma Saffy Wilson
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Elevating the overlooked

28/7/2024

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I have to remind myself on the importance of what at first glance might seem insignificant holds  potential for discovery and reflection.
Two lumps of dried dirt—one of which I’ve created a hole in—on a slightly elevated shelf. By playing with these materials and a lovely root ball that I place on top, I create a totemic shape. This exercise is not just about the arrangement itself but what it represents and the ideas it sparks.

Why This Matters:

The process of elevating these small, undesired, and often overlooked objects plays with broader themes I’m currently exploring. By focusing on these pretty humble materials, I’m playing with notions of importance, value, and belief. Objects and materials usually seen as mundane or insignificant, can take on new meaning when positioned mindfully, maybe even becoming symbols of contemplation and reverence.

The Power of Elevation:

​Rearranging and elevating objects isn’t merely about aesthetics. It’s a deliberate exploration of how we assign value and meaning. A simple piece of dirt, when placed in a new context, can transform into something significant, prompting us to question what we deem valuable and why.
This activity is not just about the immediate visual outcome either but about the themes and ideas it brings to light. It’s a way to find new connections and inspirations that may have always been there but needed time to breathe.
This week I begin a time of contemplation at Tremenheere Sculpture Garden where I’ll be doing a residency for 8 weeks, researching, spending time with mud and considering ways forward. I can’t wait.
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Found objects, fragments and new perspectives

5/7/2024

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Sharing these snapshots of my process is helping me see my work from a new perspective.
There’s something special about documenting these moments of exploration and discovery,
an activity I have always taken for granted.


This is a very short close-up of me rearranging three objects: a round pebble I found on the beach, a fragment of a bowl I made, and a small maquette made from two broken pottery fragments. These small-scale compositions are an exercise in finding some kind of narrative within the chaos of broken and found objects that are scattered around my studio


Why This Matters:


There’s a real joy in handling these objects, each with its own history and texture. The pebble, smoothed by the sea, contrasts with the rough edges of the broken pot and the small maquette. As I move them around, new relationships emerge, and what was once a simple pebble or a shattered piece of pottery becomes part of a larger conversation.


The Power of Context:


As I mentioned in my earlier post, this practice of rearranging and experimenting is a crucial part of my creative process. It helps me understand how context changes perception. A broken fragment, when paired with another, can suggest a narrative or evoke an emotion or a message that wasn’t there before.

This activity of rearranging objects is about finding new connections and inspirations to move forward with—about themes and ideas that are always there but need some time to breathe, if you like. It’s a continuous loop of creation and reflection..
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    I always love a peek into fellow artists studios, seeing work in progress and ideas being played with.  

    This page operates as a view into my studio practice. A reminder for me of what's going on in my head and in that space.

    A reminder of work that often remains incomplete

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  • Emma Saffy Wilson
  • Works
  • About
  • Blog - Studio Visit
  • Arts Engagement