Interview with Samantha Louise Emery, Multimedia Contemporary Artist

Lifestyle - Interview

by Beren Dere

Scientists, politicians, and business people have determined the fate of the world throughout history. But looking back, many of them were inspired by artists and their work. The first sensitivity, the first reaction, and the first solution for social problems are always put forward by the artists. The power of visual art cannot be underestimated when it has the capacity to relay a message to a wide audience almost instantaneously. Samantha Louise Emery is a contemporary multimedia artist whose art has a powerful message. Samantha Louise Emery's latest work, the IKONA | Mirrored Interior series is a special project that aims to raise awareness to the positive effects of female solidarity and the depth of the feminine spirit. I had the chance to interview Samantha Louise Emery about her career and the details of the IKONA | Mirrored Interior project.

Samantha, before talking about IKONA, I would like to learn more about you. Your family is made up of an array of inspiring individuals, including famous artists, politicians, models, and athletes. Could you tell us more about your roots?

My roots are filled with imagination, experimentation, adventure, humour, drama, and inexhaustible curiosity.

How did it feel about spending your childhood in the Mansion House?

It was a memorable moment in my childhood, leaving its influence on my drive for quality over quantity in Life.

Samantha Louise Emery, IKONA 1 - Laurie Anderson, IKONA 2 - Angelique Kidjo

Could you tell us about your modelling career?

It was an experience of learning to desensitise from rejection and criticism. A good lesson for an artist! It also strengthened my awareness and ability to creatively use my body as another form of artistic expression.

Art has always been a part of your life. Could you tell us about your artistic journey and the different mediums you have explored from directing to painting, sculpture to drawing?

I am fortunate to have been encouraged to use my imagination from an early age through dance, sport, theatre, singing, piano, performing, drawing and painting. It comes naturally for me to work in different mediums. I like to be diverse in my artistic expression. It stretches my imagination, and strengthens my practical and creative skill sets.

Samantha Louise Emery

You are based in Bodrum, what does this place mean to you? How did this journey change your life?

Bodrum is my spiritual home. It has seen me through significant changes and provided soulful inspiration with its rich mix of past and present, bathed over thousands of years in a white light at sunrise and a golden hue at sunset.

How did you come up with the idea of creating multimedia portrait series IKONA | Mirrored Interior?

It was over dinner on my 49th birthday that I had the idea. It began with the desire to do a portrait series of women who had inspired my evolution from girl to woman. From there it evolved into this multimedia portrait series.

Samantha Louise Emery, IKONA 3 - Sadiye, IKONA 4 - Germaine Greer

What is the focus of IKONA | Mirrored Interior? Which issues do you aim to address through this series?

The IKONA | Mirrored Interior series looks to bring awareness to the depth of the Feminine Spirit and the positive effects of Female Solidarity.

Who are the ten women you chose to represent in the IKONA | Mirrored Interior series? How did you choose your subjects? Which of your subjects’ features do you aim to highlight?

I began with my godmother, Krystyne Griffin, and from her created a list of women who were making a difference in the world. The other IKONAs I chose to represent are creative pioneer Laurie Anderson, singer Angelique Kidjo, Anatolian vegetable seller Sadiye, outspoken feminist Germaine Greer, activist Alanis Obomsawin, comedian Caitlin Moran, conservationist Jane Goodall, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. I aim to highlight their unique voice, purpose, human vulnerability, spiritual colours and expressions.

Samantha Louise Emery, IKONA 5 - Alanis Obomsawin, IKONA 6 - Krystyne Griffin

What techniques did you use to create the series?

I began by digitally drawing into a photograph of each IKONA using Adobe Sketch on an iPad Pro with an iPad pencil. After this process, I composited photographic self-portraits into either Adobe Sketch or Photoshop. They were printed in Bodrum and transported to Wiltshire, where I completed the final stages of hand embroidery, acrylic painting and designing the frames to hang the IKONAs.

Samantha Louise Emery, IKONA 7 - Caitlin Moran, IKONA 8 - Jane Goodall

A portion of the revenue from the IKONA project is donated to the Malala Fund and the Working Chance Charity? Could you tell us about these charities and the reason you chose them?

Jocelyn Hillman, the founder of Working Chance, came to my attention through a friend. We met on my 50th birthday solidifying my desire to support this wonderful charity which helps women to reintegrate back into society after often having been unfairly imprisoned for a petty crime. The Malala Fund helps girls all around the world to get the education they deserve.

What is next for you? Are you working on any new projects?

I am currently gathering information and meeting the women who will be part of my next series of portraits IKONA | Wise Women. The Wise Women series will celebrate inspirational women from around the world who are making a difference. I also have a couple of opportunities on the burner involving musically collaborating with other artists, which will creatively correlate with my next series.

Samantha Louise Emery, IKONA 9 - Malala Yousafzai, IKONA 10 - Lucy

Do you have Instagram, Twitter or Facebook? What do you think about social media?

My Instagram account is @samanthaikona. Instagram is a strong platform to share work and network, and to understand and support other artists. Both my Twitter and Facebook accounts are Samantha Louise Emery @samanthaIKONA. I think if used mindfully and with healthy time management, social media is an excellent tool for creative expression, creative networking, gaining knowledge, and personally and professionally connecting.

Thank you Samantha for your time.

For more information, please click here to visit the website of Samantha Louise Emery

Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

All photos are the property of their respective owners.