Nothing Bad Has Happened 12″ x 16″ pen and shellac on canvas
Emily Orling‘s paintings place babies in reddish-brown mucus, referencing the womb. Even her babies in bathtubs draw on the idea of the womb as comfort, or its lack. Separation creates intense loneliness. These feelings scream out of Orling’s work. Though babies often symbolize innocence, Orling shows how they only care about their individualized surroundings, without being self-indulgent, but without awareness of others. Selfish adult emotions here poignantly parallel infant innocence. Emotions have taken over body and mind and pushed the world away. These beings reach out for something lost, they curl up in fear, or they cry out in despair. The work is so raw it makes you want to turn away, embarrassed for looking at all. It also makes you want to stay and stare. Orling’s paintings speak to anyone who has ever gotten lost in their emotions. Life here is separation, an inevitable process occurring since birth. Her figures are highly abstracted, yet remarkably, vividly accurate. -Maria Villafranca
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The Hands by the Face 2000 9″ x 12″ pen and shellac on canvas
Nothing’s Ruined 2000 9″ x 12″ pen and shellac on canvas
Push 2000 12″ x 13″ pen and shellac on canvas
Nothing Bad Has Happened 2000 12″ x 16″ pen and shellac on canvas
Something is Missing 2000 12″ x 16″ pen and shellac on canvas
Run 2000 14″ x 18″ pen and shellac on canvas
Barely Ready 2000 16″ x 20″ pen and shellac on canvas
What is Going to Happen? 2000 18″ x 22″ pen and shellac on canvas
The First Separation 2000 18″ x 23″ pen and shellac on canvas
Just a Baby 2000 20″ x 36″ pen and shellac on canvas
A Huge Start 2000 22″ x 26″ pen and shellac on canvas
Birth is Separation 2000 24″ x 36″ pen and shellac on canvas
The Possibility to Ruin 2000 12″ x 14″ oil and shellac on canvas
Can’t Stand 2000 24″ x 36″ oil and shellac on canvas
Alone in a Body 2001 8″ x 10″ oil on canvas
Finger Sucker 2000 30″ x 40″ oil on canvas
The Quitter 2000 12″ x 17″ oil on canvas
Kicking and Screaming 2000 16″x 20″ oil on canvas
Don’t Leave 2000 20″‘ x 20″ oil on canvas
Nobody Listens 2000 20″ x 27″ oil on canvas
Pay Attention 2000 27″ x 27″ oil on canvas
Everyone’s Afraid 2000 44″ x 84″ oil on canvas
Beautiful Girl 2002 8″ x 10″ oil on vellum
Dirty Diaper 2002 24″ x 27″ oil on vellum
Dirty Thoughts 2002 24″ x 42″ oil on vellum
Bad Circles 2002 24″ x 42″ oil on vellum
Not Satisfied 2002 24″ x 42″ oil on vellum
Hold Me 2002 24″ x 42″ oil on vellum
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