Jessica Wohl is an embroidery artist from Tennessee.She makes “the invisible visible”.
“My practice of investigating and scrutinizing people, objects and domestic environments reveals hidden metaphors and interpretations of that which we cannot, or choose not, to see. Particularly drawn to portraiture and manicured homes, I exploit the uncanny while subverting domestic representations of perfection and happiness.
“Conceptual strategies such as repeating, simulating, concealing, mutating and erasing induce a sense of discomfort. By employing tight boundaries, clean edges and sickly smiles, secret interiors are protected from the outside world.
“These protective barriers are created through the use of obsessive mark making. While subtly implying that my subjects are flawed, the handmade mark in this work is evidence of our human condition-that is, we are not as perfect as we may seem. Whether painting, drawing or sewing, I make marks by hand to acknowledge and embrace the imperfections in our society’s relentless pursuit of composure.
We’ve seen other artists who use stitch to explore photographs and portraits – Shaun Kardinal and Wayne Lo spring to mind. Jessica deliberately constructs her characters and modifies their backgrounds, creating hyper real images. I find them both charming and unnerving – it’s great stuff.
Find out more about Jessica at her website.
