An Interview With Emma Sywyj
Do you suffer for your art?
Hmm that’s a good question. I find often when I am suffering already or feeling a lot of complex emotions about a particular subject, the process of making art can help to clarify a situation or circumstance. So no not really, art is a cathartic process for me.
What is the highlight of your career so far?
I think exhibiting my art work recently with MOPLA in LA and getting signed to a gallery in Glasgow called the A.Gallery. I will be exhibiting some of my art work there on 29th of June as part of their opening welcome show it’s a new gallery come one come all!
Which other living artists do you admire?
Tracey Emin, I know she’s quite controversial people either love her or hate her. But I think her work is really individual and powerful and even iconic now. I think it’s nice as a female artist to have someone successful and so strong to look up to. Nan Goldin was also a big influence when I first started taking photographs as well, he work’s really intense and her approach to the craft is borderline obsessive compulsive. Even when she was in rehab she wanted to photograph her experience there, but I think it was frowned upon by the doctors etc, she’s pretty hardcore.
What makes a good photograph?
The image has to have either a classic composition or a variation or interpretation of good composition. It has to have a punch and a kick to it for me too, something that makes you stand up and go wow. It’s very common to take photographs of a certain kind of stock when you’re starting out taking photographs and that’s fine. But when you’ve been doing it for some time you should expect something edgy, experimental and developed from a more experienced photographer. To create a good photograph you often have to take chances and go with your instinct, that’s when great things can happen, ‘Happy Accidents’ can be good thing. David Bailey and his work with Jean Shrimpton for Vogue for example was fresh and unconventional. Though they were met with lots of criticism in the end they changed the face of fashion photography forever. The photographs even now are still providing inspiration and were responsible among other things for shaping what was to become the swinging 60′s.
How would you describe your style?
Fresh, quirky, unique, vibrant & eclectic. I focus on unique details things that leap out at me for some reason. Usually things I haven’t seen before or have a mystique about them seem to interest me.
Can a photograph make you cry?
Yes if it’s got someone in it or something in it that evokes strong emotion. Photographs of children starving in Africa can evoke emotion, that’s why they are used in charity campaigns. Gruesome photographs taken in war zones can evoke fear, disgust, anger etc I know it’s cliche but they do. I feel people are becoming desensitised though, because of this deluge of imagery out there. So yes images can make you cry but they can also reduce people and situations to mear snapshots which some times isn’t very helpful or healthy for us as society.
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