Emma C. Aspeling (b. 1995) is a South African abstract
artist currently living and working in Jamestown, Western Cape. In 2017 Aspeling
graduated with a BAFA (Hons) from Stellenbosch University’s Fine Art
Department, stepping into her practice full-time since March 2022. She
predominantly uses mixed media and intuitively draws with paint on board and
paper in boldly expressive and delicate gestures and layers. She explores
personal and collective inner landscapes inspired by embodiment practices,
spirituality, the written word, music and her own experiences. Celebrating the
vulnerable, fluid and interconnected nature of the human spirit.
Most recently her
practice has been concerned with vulnerability at the intersections of private
and public, online and actual, inside and outside, past and present and
isolation and collaboration. Traversing the ways in which creative spaces, processes
and experiences can facilitate this in personally transformative ways. She
explored this through setting up her studio in the exhibition space of her most
recent solo exhbition and working there for the duration thereof. During this
time, she opened her practice and self to collaboration and engagement with the
public, both online and actual, leading to a performance and multiple
collaborations with musicians.
Over the past five years, Aspeling has taken
part in multiple groups shows, art fairs and completed four solo exhibitions.
Most recently (August 2022) she completed a very well received solo exhibition,
‘Out of Sight’ at 99 Loop Gallery in Cape Town. Currently she is exploring the
role of curator for an upcoming group show, ‘In Utero’ (October 2022) at RK
Contemporary in Riebeek Kasteel.
