BA (Hons) Fine Art student Emma Parker has achieved international success in her first year at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), with her work exhibited in the collaborative showcase, Mirror Images: Pop Culture’s Global Reflections, at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada.
The exhibition, curated by OCAD’s International Programs & Collaborations Office, explored how mass media – including film, social media, and advertising – shapes global identity. Emma’s work was selected from a competitive call for artists that invited students from OCAD and its global partner institutions to share diverse perspectives on the modern media environment.
Emma’s exhibited piece, titled Hello, consisted of a series of screen-printed and hand-finished images. The work utilised the universal gesture of greeting to explore the mechanics of human connection. By featuring repeated imagery of wind-up mechanical teeth, the piece investigated the first point of contact between individuals.
“The word ‘hello’ represents a small but significant moment where a relationship begins”, says Emma. “By using mechanical teeth, I wanted to evoke a sense of childhood playfulness, reminding viewers that connecting with those around us is an innate human experience, even in an increasingly automated and digital world.”
Originally developed digitally before being translated into traditional screen prints, Hello highlights the value of human touch within the creative process. The variations between each image in the grid were designed to disrupt uniformity, emphasising the artist's presence within a repetitive cycle.
The inclusion of Emma Parker’s work in the Toronto exhibition marked a significant milestone for the Bournemouth-based artist, showcasing AUB’s creative talent to an international audience in North America.
For more information on Emma Parker’s work and future projects, follow her on Instagram.
