Emma Hack

Emma Hack

Australian Artist

Body Painter

I think that Emma Hack creates exquisite photographs that incorporate many disciplines of art making, which is why her practice is so unique. 

The first time I saw work by Emma Hack I was intrigued - it was a photograph hanging in my friends home. The photo comprised of a country Australian landscape, with few trees and some sporadically growing vegetation. Within this scene there was a more unusual tree; its tree like shape was determined by the bodies of circus performers. 

There humanness was disguised and hidden beneath a painted surface, these bodies became part of the natural landscape, connected to place.

Upon further research I learnt that Hack had been working on a project with Cirkidz travelling around the Gawler Ranges and Ceduna to produce a body of work that spoke to the fragility of the South Australian environment. This series is titled Panoramic Bodies.

This collaborative effort was shot early mornings and late afternoons - and just look at those beautiful shadows! A quote from the Artist "The collection explores the dichotomy of the landscape, which is often depicted as harsh although truly fragile and vulnerable to our action and inaction"

I am also a fan of these beautiful works that involve repetitive motifs that cover beautiful bodies and walls. The body painting that depicts wildlife and nature is so light and delicate, it create such a serene quietness. These works inspired me to add this drawn element and to experiment with body painting!

Pan