Artist's statement

Andrea Emde's artistic practice fuses Japanese Wabi-Sabi philosophy with traditional Sumi-E technique, creating a unique artistic style that highlights intentional imperfection and celebrates the beauty of flaws. Using aqueous pigments such as sumi ink and watercolors, the unpredictable nature of these materials is taken advantage of to create spontaneous and beautiful imperfections on the paper. This organic process reflects the natural irregularities found in the different objects in her work, resulting in evocative and expressive art.

 

The minimalist approach to Andrea Emde's work focuses on essential motifs on sparse backgrounds and very little color. The Sumi-E technique, which predominantly uses black ink on white paper, captures the essence of the subjects and creates a deep void around them. This method is spontaneous and humble, and errors are not corrected, so they become integral elements of the final piece. In the Sumi-E tradition, there is no rigid classification of good or bad; Instead, the artwork reflects the story of its creation, emphasizing evolution and chance.

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Delicate renderings reveal their character and uniqueness through natural imperfections. These "flaws" are not merely aesthetic, but are celebrated as distinctive aspects of the beauty expressed throughout her work.

 

Andrea Emde's work exemplifies the notion that true beauty lies in character rather than perfection. Art invites viewers to appreciate the unique beauty found in imperfections and embrace the distinctive qualities that make each of us special.