Emily Orling, infant paintings

March 16-April 14, 2002

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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