My name is Emily Tenenbaum. I was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. Currently, I am a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design and am working while trying to pursue my painting.
Artist Statement
My body of work relies on uncovering the perception of human flaws. Like blemishes, scars, and discolorations- these “imperfections” are universal to all humans, yet they are located specifically on each individual. Most of the “flaws” are ineffable and due to self- criticality. This relates to Jacques Lacan’s explanation of the relationship between the Imaginary and the Real. As humans, we are destined to be flawed both physically and emotionally in one manner or another. Like people, the birch also contains unstoppable characteristics such as bubbling, warping, and discoloration. These inconsistencies of the wood and imagined -self dictate my process. Like each piece of birch, which possesses unique characteristics, each portrait, expresses various aspects of character. In this series, there is juxtaposition between my frequent idealization and aesthetics, and my desire to reveal what my subject sees.
My paintings focus on color to indicate a mood and push the capabilities of the material surface. The properties of the wood help the placement of the subject, while thin glazes and gestural mark create a specific aura. The intense cropping changes the context for painting the human form. It exaggerates that visuality is an artificial means to constructing identity. There is an illustrative quality in my painting, in which each piece goes together, yet there is no specificity of place or direct motive of the subject.
