EMMA GRIFFITHS
AKA EMMA CAN SEE MONSTERS
At the very beginning, monsters were our way of understanding the unexplainable happenings around us.
Before science and religion, we had monsters. Monsters were why the sun would rise and set, why the weather changed, and why the crops grew.
Despite living in a scientific world with explanations, monsters never left. We still imagine them, many people still believe in them. They still exist within a science-driven world. They appear in our entertainment and pop culture, we still share stories. Maybe monsters are the most human thing.
When I was younger I used to imagine monsters were in my window view. They would play with whatever was in the scenery, living among the landscape.
I never questioned my imagination when I was younger, but now I am an adult I wonder what the importance of pretending to see monsters was in my life. Was it escapism? Was it an attempt to explore my curiosity? It seemed like a lot of fun, and now I know I wasn’t the only child who pretended to see monsters.
We have all seen monsters, I find it fascinating that they are still in our minds despite having ways to explain them away.
Strangely, I found comfort in pretending there are monsters in my view, it reminds me of being my childhood self. Monsters are important as they became a way to understand my thoughts and feelings, they are my psycho-analysis.
When I explore monsters I explore myself. And through discovering monsters I find myself asking more and more questions.
Are monsters our emotions? Are monsters ourselves? Are monsters our history? Are monsters moments we can't explain?
Are monsters the weather? Are monsters an invention? Are monsters an instinct? Are monsters science? Are monsters psychology? Are monsters nature?
Are monsters just for children? Are monsters alive? Are you seeing a monster right now? Are you the monster?
Do monsters exist? Do monsters exist because we exist? Can you see monsters? Do you pretend to see
monsters? Do you definitely see monsters?
Where are you without a monster? Do monsters make you happy, sad, scared, anxious, joyful, or angry?
Are monsters a coping mechanism? Are monsters a strategy?
Are monsters control? Controlled? Out of control?
What is a monster?
PAINTINGS AND EXPLORATIONS
Emma experimented with her monsters further and started to create illustrations and paintings of more adult themes. Particularly reflecting on perceptions of the female body, how many natural aspects of the body have become forgotten but also framed as grotesque or disgusting despite it all being completely natural.
Emma explores ideas of the female body being played with, manipulated, fictionized, and objectified. In her work she learns about her own relationship with feminisation, how aspects of feminisation play an important role in her self-identity and wanting to reclaim and be proud of her womanhood.
