Observations of the Waters
by Clara Emery
The photographs included in Observations of the Waters tell a tale of the ocean and of belief. Many traditions tied to the ocean are also linked to folk tradition, including tales of shipwrecks and floods, warnings to stay out of the ocean during ghost month, and the ritual sending-off of resentment via the sea. I use a large format camera to construct scenes that take inspiration from these stories, and I also document sites and practices associated with this lore. In making this work, I have found that history, memory, and folklore become entangled by the passing of time.
ABOUT THE CREATOR
Clara Emery (b. 1997; Seattle, WA) uses experimental film and large format photography to engage with narratives from tradition and memory. This includes stories and rituals from Taiwanese folk religion, records of dreams, and memories from rural mountainous regions. Emery graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2019, and received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2023. She completed a Fulbright Open Research Fellowship in 2024.
Website: claraemery.com
Instagram: @sthenoism