PLUS MAGAZINE: Artist Spotlight

April 16, 2020

Full article: https://www.plusmagazines.net/stories/artist-spotlight-emily-ponsonby

 

"TIME IS HARD TO PIN DOWN AT THE MOMENT. SOME DAYS IT SLIPS THROUGH YOUR FINGERS LIKE SAND, OTHER DAYS IT TURNS TO SLUDGE. IT’S HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF HOURS, LET ALONE THE DAY OF THE WEEK; WE’RE ALL IN A STATE OF FLUX. FOR THE BRITISH ARTIST EMILY PONSONBY, IT’S PRECISELY TIMELESSNESS THAT ATTRACTS HER TO THE FEMALE NUDE. “I THINK CLOTHES CAN DATE A WORK AND MAKE IT ABOUT A SPECIFIC MOMENT, WHEREAS MINE IS MORE ABOUT A FEELING,” SHE SAYS. “IT’S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO TRANSPORT THE VIEWER – AT LEAST THAT WAS MY INITIAL INTENTION.” ON THE DAY I SPOKE WITH HER, SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN CAPE TOWN, RIDING A MOTORBIKE UP AND DOWN THE COAST, PAUSING TO PAINT AT ROCK POOLS. IT WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA THAT SHE FIRST BECAME FASCINATED WITH FLESH, IN PART BECAUSE SHE WAS CONSCIOUS OF HER OWN SKIN COLOUR – OF BEING WHITE AND WHAT THAT MEANT."Words by Chloe Ashby