Artist: Emma Kohlmann
Exhibition title: Sitting by the Well
Venue: COOPER COLE, Toronto, Canada
Date: July 21 – September 9, 2023
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and COOPER COLE, Toronto
COOPER COLE is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Emma Kohlmann titled, Sitting by the Well, this marks the artists first solo exhibition with the gallery, and first in Canada.
Emma Kohlmann, a renowned visionary artist, embraces an unrestrained and spontaneous creative process, devoid of predetermined plans or restrictions. Guided by the desire to evoke specific moods, she draws from her intuition and immerses herself in a world of recurring universal symbols present throughout her art. These symbols, such as birds, the ouroboros, androgynous figures, spiders, and spirals, are all imbued with expansive connotations which contribute to the overall significance of Emma’s artwork without bearing sole responsibility.
Seeking genuine expression, Emma is drawn to the allure of a naive aesthetic, viewing it as a pure reflection of her subconscious. She draws inspiration from the poetic essence of the unconscious mind, embracing its untamed and instinctive nature. Emma’s approach challenges preconceived notions and societal expectations, liberating her artistic realm. Her creativity flows freely, forging a unique path.
Although her focus primarily lies in mark making through drawing, Emma expresses discomfort with being solely labeled as a painter. Instead, she identifies herself as a creator of pictures, emphasizing the artistry inherent in her visual storytelling. This perspective is further reflected in her incorporation of pyrography, using fire to burn designs onto wood frames. This technique symbolizes purification and reintegrates her drawing practice into her paintings.
Emma’s work captivates through intentional and meaningful lines and brushstrokes, weaving a genuine emotional atmosphere into her art that resonates with both herself and viewers. Her creative process taps into pure moods, experienced on a subconscious level without conscious acknowledgment.
“We do not need to learn anything to begin to dream. Nor do we need to absorb any chemical trigger the experience of dreaming. In the sense, the dream state, like the waking state, simply is. It happens as we happen. It seems to be as real as we are; and in this seeming realty lies a basic paradox for the sleeping dreamer”
Dreams: Visions of the Night
David Coxhead and Susan Hiller
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, growth inside the snake, 2023, Acrylic on linen with walnut frame, 60 x 80 in (152.4 x 203.2 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, spikey flower and an alchemical border, 2023, Acrylic and oil paint on linen with walnut frame, 60 x 80 in (152.4 x 203.2 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, full buck moon, 2023, Acrylic on linen, 48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, poetic nature, 2023, Acrylic on linen, 48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, flowers are just shards, 2023, Oil on linen, 48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, portrait in the weeds, 2023, Oil on linen with cherry frame, 14 x 11 in (35.6 x 27.9 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, two snakes, 2023, Acrylic on linen with walnut frame, 10 x 8 in (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, through the bulls horns, 2023, Acrylic on linen with cherry frame, 10 x 8 in (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, Home of the mind, 2023, Acrylic on linen, 48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, stroll, 2023, Oil on linen with cherry frame, 14 x 11 in (35.6 x 27.9 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, After (forrest) I, 2023, Oil on linen with pyrographed walnut frame, 14 x 11 in (35.6 x 27.9 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, Sitting by the Well, 2023, exhibition view, COOPER COLE, Toronto
Emma Kohlmann, spikey flower, 2023, Oil on linen with pyrographed walnut frame, 11 x 14 in (27.9 x 35.6 cm)
Emma Kohlmann, tulip, 2023, Oil on linen with cherry frame, 10 x 8 in (25.4 x 20.3 cm)