Sunday, December 29, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 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.
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, October 5, 2013
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
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.
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
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)
Read Artist's Statement.
Digital C-print, 4 x 6 in., 2011.
Read Artist's Statement.
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
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.
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
Monday, August 5, 2013
Haiku #41 We Live Competatively
It's hard not to compare
yourself with others.
We live competatively
in America.
It's ingrained so deep.
It's hard to step back sometimes.
yourself with others.
We live competatively
in America.
It's ingrained so deep.
It's hard to step back sometimes.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Pink Martini collage
Check out my @pinkmartiniband collage! http://t.co/QuSspJ6MJq
— Emma Johnson (@EmmaCJohnson) August 3, 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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) !
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ^ ^
* * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * ( x )
| | | |
(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) !
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ^ ^
* * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * ( x )
| | | |
Haiku #31 The opera is elegant.
Elegant opera.
The content questionable.
The music is good.
So, I guess it's OK then.
The content questionable.
The music is good.
So, I guess it's OK then.
Haiku #29 Tests
Tests make me nervous
if I think about it long.
Think of a tropical place.
That sounds good to me.
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
Ice-cream is tasty; exothermic reactions are good in summer.
— Emma Johnson (@EmmaCJohnson) July 19, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
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