Emily Chung: Kissy Fishy

Since moving to Plymouth, I’ve started swimming in the sea. Two months ago, I swam to the pontoon for the first time — something that once felt like a mission impossible when I was a child. I overcame wave after wave of fear.

Yet my childhood self was fearless in front of a blank canvas. She painted fearlessly. How did I do that?

“I just want to kiss. That’s my deal.” – Isaac.

I let my imagination roam freely, trying to remember how I used to paint. These paintings don’t explore the intimacy or romance between Isaac and Ralph which is completely made up in my head. Once again, they were sparked by an small casual chat over breakfast. Spontaneous, unintentional and insignificant.

The hyperbolical price tag of a mass produced bag is highlighting the absurdity of the consumer habits of luxury goods that are made by exploited labour. We feel compelled to capitalise everything we love doing. This prompts me to question - have we lost the ability to enjoy doing something for the sake of enjoying them? Yes, I mean like having hobbies. Even Isaac and Ralph are merchandised now, turned into commodities and making extreme profit.

Artist Statement:

I am a multidisciplinary artist based in Plymouth, UK. My practice spans diverse media, including paintings, printmaking and performance. I hold a Graduate Diploma in Art from goldsmiths and Master’s degree from the Glasgow School of Art. I explore the mundanity of the everyday in this world filled with mass-produced commodities. My works are often humorous and playful. Anthropomorphism provides me power and joy; I imagine myself as different objects and animals exploring the intricate relationships between work and labour, woman and cow under capitalism.