MUNTHE ART MONDAY: EMMA HARTMAN

Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.

My name is Emma Hartman and I’m a visual artist based in Stockholm. Colour is central to my process – painting for me often begins with an idea about encounters between different colours. They grow out of associations, between inner and outer landscapes, with colour becoming both subject and sensation. I received an MFA from Umeå Konsthögskola in 2006. Since then my work has been presented in solo and group shows around Sweden and abroad.

My latest exhibition Springs is currently on view at Wetterling Gallery in Stockholm until 27 September.

Emma is wearing Bobula dress.

Can you name some other female (artist) that inspires you and explain why they do so?

When it comes to painters I admire the American painter Joan Mitchell a lot. There’s so much presence in her paintings. Her work is very often monumental in size, and I love how it’s a physical and emotional experience standing in front of them. Her paintings are fearless and therefore always a source of inspiration. I also get great inspiration from musicians and writers like Pj Harvey, Adrienne Lenker, Jenny Erpenbeck and Nina Bouraoui.

Can you explain more about how being a woman has affected your career?

Embarking on a life as an artist, for me at least, has been about a lot of DIY. For that you need a lot of good people around you. I feel I’m part of a big community of both women artists and women that work within the arts who are really important to me. Being an artist means a lot of time working alone in the studio, but my career would not have been possible without that community.

Emma is wearing Lohanna Knit.

What would you like people to notice in your artwork?

I have always been interested in how colour evokes different feelings, sensations and associations. Depending on the viewer, these experiences will be different. What I want is to enable each person’s imagination and create a personal space for contemplation.

What has been the most challenging aspect of being a woman in the arts?

I feel I’m living in a good time and in a good place where women aren’t put in a box as much as in previous generations. Especially when you’re young and starting off, it takes time to build confidence in yourself and your work. It’s great to feel that confidence build with age and experience.

Emma is wearing Chapter Top.