Emily Winton : Statement

Emily Winton
Statement

Dispositions 2006-2008

My work deals with self-defined issues of size, space and the interaction between the two. Dispositions addresses the questioning of the relationship between private space and the culture at large. Where is my space? Where do I fit in? The interpretation of a woman’s role is as the domestic “queen.” She rules the home and more specifically the kitchen. I do not easily fit into this role. Similarly, I do not fit into most of the cultural ideals imposed on women, particularly the standard physique. As an over-weight woman, and as a non-domesticated woman, I am trying to challenge the positions of the ideal woman and my place in the domestic sphere.
Through the reality of large color photographs I explore the absurdity of trying to conform myself into spaces that I obviously do not fit into, both physically and metaphorically. It is a performance concerning the incongruity of society’s dogma on the ideal woman. For reference to this new exploration of the domestic space I have looked at feminist artists like Martha Rosler, Valie Export and art exhibits like “WomanHouse.” The seemingly straightforward lighting and focused subject matter depict the reality of my size, the duress of pose and the constriction of the spaces. The objective of my work is to show the Dispositions of myself in contrast with the societal ideals of the woman and the home.

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Diary of a Fat Girl 2005-2006

Dear Diary,

        Photographs are reflections of people or places frozen and captured on film. Whether you are looking at a reflection in the mirror or a reflection in a photograph, your reflection shows you nothing more than a reflection. A reflection is only skin deep. The Diary of a Fat Girl is about allowing others to see what is beneath the skin, below the surface and “beyond the fat”.
       My photographs are meant to educate people on the life of the fat girl, as she is seen through her own eyes, and the eyes of others. I want people to see, through my struggle, the struggle that people all around me are going through. Most of all, I want to help the people who share my pain, while at the same time, help myself. Each photograph is a page in my Diary, and each is intended to reach each individual that views it. Whether male, female, skinny, or fat, almost all people can relate to the issues that I face on a daily basis.
      The Diary of a Fat Girl is also about a movement toward awareness in our lives: an awareness of self, an awareness of suffering, and an awareness of the progression of an underlying problem. My body is a reflection of the American lifestyle and culture. We have evolved our technologies so much that our food is no longer healthy to eat. Preservatives and chemicals to speed up the cooking processes and extend shelf-life are filling our bodies. In a way, preservatives are doing just what they are intended to do - they are preserving our fat. And at the same time they are shortening our shelf-life, and our quality of life.
       As an artist, one tries to express oneself through various mediums and perspectives. I am trying to accomplish these goals with my work in Photography and the Video Arts. The awareness I am working towards needs to reach all people, especially those people in countries who do not yet know the terror of American consumerism, but who are rapidly westernizing more and more every day. My goal is that through my chosen mediums - through the Diary of a Fat Girl - I can begin to raise this awareness in others.
   The Diary of a Fat Girl is an outward reflection of the inner pages of my life, and the lives of many others. But this reflection in intended to show more than what is on the surface. I hope that as you "read" my Diary, you will learn a little more about what is beyond the fat.

Love,
The Fat Girl

If you have any questions about my work or would like to inquire about collecting or buying my art, please contact me, Emily Winton at EmWinton@yahoo.com