Emma Talbot: You Are Not the Centre

In her art, Emma Talbot (b. 1969) explores relationships between humans and nature in an era defined by the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and technological change. The artist’s own experiences and reflections expand from the personal towards the collective, forming narratives of our time. For Talbot, drawing forms the foundation of her artistic practice, serving both as a tool for thinking and a channel for emotions.

The exhibition features large-scale silk paintings, three-dimensional textile works, as well as drawings. Together, they create a spatial installation in which the viewer can move as if following the artist’s train of thought. Talbot’s handwritten texts are an integral part of the works, opening up new perspectives on them.

Also on view in the exhibition is the animation You Are Not the Centre, in which the narrator figure experiences the world through the senses of a dog, a spider, a bird, a deer and a moth. The animation challenges our anthropocentric worldview by highlighting the intelligence and emotional capacity of the animal kingdom.

In Emma Talbot’s works, humans are not placed at the centre of the world, but as part of nature and a larger whole whose pieces are interdependent. The exhibition invites us to reflect on how we can collectively envision more sustainable and equitable futures.

The exhibition is curated by HAM’s Head of Exhibitions Kati Kivinen.

Produced with support from the Finnish Heritage Agency.