Emma Ongman

Emma Ongman is an interdisciplinary artist, self-taught musician, and arts administrator. Primarily working with images, video, and sound, Emma is interested in everyday environments, the evolution of relationships, and the impact of technology on both nature and humanity. She embraces tech-accidents, the recycling of materials, and explores the intersection between magic, science and art. Her latest project involves using found materials to create photographic sculptures aimed at initiating dialogues about neurodiversity.

Ongman has shown her work in Canada, the United States, France, Greece, and Poland. She holds a dual major Bachelor of Arts Honours degree with Distinction from the University of Guelph and has received grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Guelph Arts Council. Emma currently lives and works in Montréal, Québec.

May you always be with others is an experimental photography project intended to create a space for discussions about neurodiversity in the art world and beyond. My goal for the Céline Bureau residency is to produce a body of experimental photographs printed on ceramic and plaster objects that challenge and imagine new ways of understanding what is "normal." Growing up in a household with the unique complexities of an older brother on the autism spectrum and a father whose journey was tragically cut short by suicide, my perspective on the world has been deeply shaped by the nuances of neurodivergence. Working as an assistant to photographers such as Suzy Lake, my photographic training has also been influenced by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of photography as a catalyst for promoting social change. Thus, my focus for this project lies in creating images that not only stretch the limits of the photographic medium but also intentionally promote progressive societal development.  

The photographs will feature unexpected moments of out-of-place objects, living subjects, landscapes, and found words within the context of the "every day". The sculptures I build will look like organic rectangles, some with protruding edges or found objects, each with their own unique identity that is reminiscent of the images they hold. Through the images chosen and the playful creation of building the artworks, this project is a heartfelt endeavour to challenge preconceptions of normalcy in art and behaviour, and to create an empathetic space for discussions surrounding neurodiversity in the art world and society at large.

@emmaongman
https://emmaongman.com/
Photo credits: Carson Morrison @laundryb0i