“Histories” is a series of works that trace the lineage of Western society from its origins to the present day.
Daniel Emmerig’s work grapples with the unknown by probing history and mythology for their continued relevance to our culture. He studied both painting and printmaking at UNSW’s College of Fine Arts, and has exhibited in shows throughout Australia.
“Histories” is a series of works that trace the lineage of Western society from its origins to the present day. The idea behind the project is to discover, through reflection, common threads which weave themselves through the story of our civilisation; from the birth of Abrahamic religion in the Levant to the end of the Cold War in Berlin. The works in the series are as much examinations of the act of thinking itself as they are presentations of fact. The 10 engraved panels which make up the series (a new Decalogue) are stream of consciousness compositions, each an improvisation on a historical theme or event. The subject of each meditation is chosen for its significance in the history of Western society.
When viewed as a body, threads emerge naturally through the comparison of the content of each work. There is no essay or argument put forward, no value judgment; just the admirable and the detestable laid bare for the viewer to draw their own conclusions. Many of the vices which have plagued the West in the past are still problems today. By the same token, it is worth protecting the accomplishments of the past from the erosion of modern life. The lessons of history have never been more relevant, and in a time of great turmoil it is worth looking back to examine the ugliness and the beauty in our past.
Daniel Emmerig’s work grapples with the unknown by probing history and mythology for their continued relevance to our culture. He studied both painting and printmaking at UNSW’s College of Fine Arts, and has exhibited in shows throughout Australia.
“Histories” is a series of works that trace the lineage of Western society from its origins to the present day. The idea behind the project is to discover, through reflection, common threads which weave themselves through the story of our civilisation; from the birth of Abrahamic religion in the Levant to the end of the Cold War in Berlin. The works in the series are as much examinations of the act of thinking itself as they are presentations of fact. The 10 engraved panels which make up the series (a new Decalogue) are stream of consciousness compositions, each an improvisation on a historical theme or event. The subject of each meditation is chosen for its significance in the history of Western society.
When viewed as a body, threads emerge naturally through the comparison of the content of each work. There is no essay or argument put forward, no value judgment; just the admirable and the detestable laid bare for the viewer to draw their own conclusions. Many of the vices which have plagued the West in the past are still problems today. By the same token, it is worth protecting the accomplishments of the past from the erosion of modern life. The lessons of history have never been more relevant, and in a time of great turmoil it is worth looking back to examine the ugliness and the beauty in our past.
