Emma Powell | When It Rains

When It Rains

Artist Statement

Writers Block, cyanotype on silk-hemp fabric photograph and photogram

Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

When it rains knives, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

Hanging On, cyanotype on silk-hemp fabric, photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

Falling Into Pieces, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

Blizzard, cyanotype on linen photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

When It Rains Bones, cyanotype photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

tangled, cyanotype on cotton fabric, photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

Under Seige, cyanotype on silk-hemp fabric, photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram

Out of reach, cyanotype photograph Haircut, cyanotype on linen fabric photograph and photogram on linen fabric

When It Rains

2020 - In progress

When It Rains is a series of cyanotypes on fabric combining photographs and photograms into single surreal images. These artworks reflect on loss, anxiety, and the materials we collect.

After the recent deaths of people close to me, I found myself sorting through an excess of household materials. Each object suddenly had a new nostalgic significance heightened by loss. I began incorporating these materials into my artwork, and each image developed a new narrative. This process also gave the objects a newfound purpose while creating a record of them.

I place these pieces directly onto the photographic digital negatives while exposing cyanotype-coated cloth. Throughout this ongoing series, I playfully experiment with the scale and quantity of familiar objects to create visual connections and metaphors.