P Emerson Williams

I create work that seeks to encapsulate the experience of the numinous, from calm meditative visions to harrowing moments of cosmic expansion of consciousness. In trying to capture the essence of experience the work can take on narrative properties or render itself in entirely abstract terms. So, in a sense, the person looking at the work is the subject and the observer in one. My work is about capturing that moment when the individual sees convention and creed as the arbitrary set of assumptions they are, the rise and fall of empires as the unimportant and vain frothing and bubbling of ephemera they are. It is about the joy of letting ludic sociopolitical distractions go, even as compassion compels the idividual in all thoughts and action.

I work in pencil, ink, painting as well as digital media, including still images, video, music and sound art. At the base of all visual work is mark making, and much of the digital work has as a basis scanned pencil drawings.

Where I find my imagery is from direct experience in my daily practice. By not using imagery and iconography from extant traditions presents a challenge. To use imagery that is very personal and make it communicate in a way that is universal is one goal taht will ne...

Sandgotna Skole '84