Friday, December 27, 2013

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Haiku #44 Sleep

I am so tired.
I don't want to study now.
Sleep sounds tremendous.

I want to lie down.
And dream about something else.
Then I'll start again.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Shanghai, China



Artist's Statement

            In 2011, I had the opportunity to visit Shanghai for a month, as my cousin and his family had temporarily relocated there for work. Because they had lived there four years and had a housekeeper/cook and driver who wanted to tell you everything about Shanghai, I got to see China from a local – yet distinctly American –point of view.
            While the things I photographed would seem mundane and probably make most Chinese people wonder why anyone would photograph what I did (my driver shook his head many times), to me it was a new way of seeing how American my way of thinking is. Through the photographs, I invite the viewer to reflect on American and Chinese culture, evolving socio-economic class and identity.
            For example, some of the things I photographed include: Utility outlets. Items at grocery stores such as unrefrigerated eggs. Engrish signs, clothing and ephemera. Women holding hands not as lesbians but as friends. Squatty potties. Crossing the street and driving in traffic with many close calls. Cramped sidewalks and streets. Untrained optometrists selling $15 prescription glasses. Chinese people asking to take pictures with Americans and flashing the peace sign.
            Starbucks, McDonald’s and other American fast food proliferation. Eating at a German restaurant in Xintiandi, a section of the French Concession, in Shanghai, China.
Old and new buildings. Rich and poor neighborhoods. Signs written only in English in my family’s neighborhood (Pudong) versus the usual bilingual Mandarin/English signs. Apartment buildings with poles extending from under each window to dry clothes as space is limited. People walking around in their pajamas to flaunt their social status. Brand-name knockoffs such as Burberry scarfs with tags that say “Made in England” in plastic packaging that says “Made in China.” BMWs displaying new wealth coming into the country as a way for the nouveau riche showing it off.
            My goal is to give non-native viewers a glimpse of Shanghai not shown in popular media and to show Chinese people one American’s way of seeing China.

18 images/videos | Emma C. Johnson


Target Bag
Oil on Canvas, 17.5 x 23.5 in., 2004.
Read story about it.


Water Under the Bridge
5-Color screenprint on Arches paper, 12 x 12 in., 2003.


Eyelash Curlers
1-Color screenprint on Arches paper, 192 x 31 in., 2003.


Garbage Bag in Paris
C-print, 8 x 10 in., 2002.


Untitled (Chelsea, NYC)
Digital C-print, 6 x 4 in., 2007.


Memories and Projections Suggesting the Present
Color digital video (Film Still), 7’10”, 2010.


Abortion/What Would You do if They Attached a Violinist to You?
Oil on canvas, 16.25 x 37.5 in., 2003.


Hmong Village Outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand
Digital print, 6 x 4 in., 2011.

"Elite Smile Dental Clinic" (Thailand)
Digital C-print, 6 x 4 in., 2011.


Redcrosse and Una
Digital image, 4 x 6 in., 2009.


Duessa and Redcrosse
Digital image, 4 x 6 in., 2011.

Plagiarism
Website, dimensions variable, 2008.
Read Artist's Statement.


The Eiffel Tower Drawing Project (relational aesthetics)
Graphite and pen on paper, 143 2 x 2 in. drawings, 2009. Drawings of places by 143 strangers.
Read Artist's Statement.

Made in England/Made in China
Digital C-print, 4 x 6 in., 2011.
Read Artist's Statement.

"Shaving" (film still)
30'0", Video, 2001.
 Read Artist's Statement.



Memories & Projections Suggesting the Present
7'10", Digital Video, 2010.

Read Artist's Statement.

The Snickers-Bar Absurdist from Emma Johnson on Vimeo.

The Snickers-Bar Absurdist
Video, 17'0", 2003.


Parasite Project (relational aesthetics)
Standard office paper, 8.5 x 11 in., 2008.
Read Artist's Statement. 


Oxytocin molecular drawing
Red Sharpie on Strathmore charcoal paper, 11 x 17 in., 2014.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Real and fake

The relationship between real and fake,
value and values, what really matters
and is it different for everyone?

 


Knock offs.

Before I left for China, I always wanted the real thing. I never bought into the trend of buying fake Louis Vuitton purses in the early 2000s. I wanted to be authentic—the real thing. I wanted my things to be nice; and if I couldn’t afford something I would do without until I could afford it. I didn’t try to copy anyone or pretend I was something I wasn’t. I felt not buying fake designer purses and clothing was an outward reflection of this value.

Column on minimum wage

Column: September 4, 2013, p2.


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Haiku #43 Flit

Failure is close to success.
Success is close to failure.
There's very little difference.
Sometimes a blink divides it.
Only a flit and it's changed.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Haiku #42 Communication

Communication.
It's imparative.
Communication.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Haiku #40 In Seventy Years

In seventy years
I will probably be dead.
What to do in the time left?
Spend it wisely, please,
but if you don't you'll be dead
making regret a moot point.
So fritter time away or
spend it carefully –
or a little bit of both.

Haiku #39 Even weekdays

Breaks are important.
Otherwise you go insane.
I want to be sane.
That's why I take breaks.
And I'm proud of it.
I also sleep eight hours
every night even week days.
I know it's shocking.
And, yes, I'm American.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Haiku #38 Goodnight

Goodnight, Moon, goodnight.
Sleep tight, and keep out bedbugs.
They will bite bite bite.

Haiku #37 In movies

Living inside characters
you see in movies
then coming back to your life.
Horror, I don't want their life.
Action, I'm getting tired.
Chick-flick, not realistic.
Fantasy, is fantasy.
Comedy, I'll take!

Haiku #36 Obvious

I wish it were obvious.
Then decisions would be fast.
Clear cut is underrated.
Though much less interesting.

Haiku #35 Connecting dreams

I like being creative.
I like logic too.
Not that that's not creative.
But sometimes I like dreaming.
Nothing corresponds.
Or at least not directly.
You are free not to make sense.
You can make nonsense.
You can be illogical.
At least for a bit.
Then come back to waking life.
And try to connect the dots.

Haiku #34 It keeps it interesting

Putting on a red sweater.
This is summertime.
It keeps it interesting.
Putting on an orange coat.
What season is it?
Summertime in Michigan.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Haiku #32 Meow

(5) Furry black and white
(5) Critters of the night
(7) Running all over the place.

(7) Sometimes they say, "Meow, meow, meow."
(7) Yes, that's what they like to do.
(5) They like to eat and
(5) They sleep all day long.

(7) Oftentimes they say, "Meow, meow.
(6) Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow.
(5) Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow.
(4) Meow, meow, meow, meow.
(3) Meow, meow, meow.
(2) Meow, meow.
(1) Meow."
(0) !

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Haiku #31 The opera is elegant.

Elegant opera.
The content questionable.
The music is good.
So, I guess it's OK then.

Haiku #30 Math

Math is logical.
Very, very logical.
Thinking with order.

Haiku #29 Tests

Tests make me nervous
if I think about it long.
Think of a tropical place.
That sounds good to me.


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Haiku #28 Exothermic Ice-cream


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Haiku #27 Traveling

Trains are romantic.
Airplanes have their charm also.
Traveling is ______.

Haiku #26 Fashion

I like runway shows.
Clothes tell us our history.
We all contribute.

Haiku #25 Chemistry books

I like to read books,
except about chemistry.
Just kidding I think.

Haiku #24 Sweaters

I like wool sweaters.
They keep me warm in winter.
Burr. It gets cold then.

Haiku #23 Dreams

Remember your dreams.
They figure things out for you.
Waking life explained.

Haiku #22 Sleep

Sleep is always nice.
I like to get 8 hours.
7 will due though.

Haiku #21 Butterflies

Butterflies are good.
They come in many colors.
They stop and they fly.

Butterflies at Dow Gardens 2013