Emilia Horrigan, United Kingdom

Artist Statement: These artworks aim to combine the imagery of the female saint with the modern experience of womanhood. I have used religious and historical research to relate the devotion and the suffering of medieval religious women, to the suffering of women today. Religious women have been denied their desires and their autonomy, which leads to their suffering and (in the case of Saint Catherine of Siena and many other female saints), her starvation. My work is meant to convey the devotion to suffering that is taught to young women, and that remains prevalent amongst our life experiences.

Emilia is a Fine Art student, originally from South Yorkshire, currently studying her BA at Newcastle University. Her work has gothic undertones, often questioning religion, and she uses historical and literary research to inspire her work.