“I am moved by the intensely personal aspects of life,” states Adelaide-based artist Margaret Ambridge, “the subjects and experiences often avoided or ignored. Art has the power to provide a pathway or opportunity for people to have difficult but much needed conversations.” By refusing to shy away from the parts of life – and death – that are often endured in silence, the works of Ambridge constitute deeply powerful and acutely moving contemplations of humanity.
Her foundational medium is charcoal, which she often commingles with other platforms such as participatory practice, video and installation in order to provide an immersive visual experience for her audience. Ambridge applies her medium in an almost sculptural manner, using her fingers to mould soft lines and deep shadows, before scratching it back using anything from etching tools to sandpaper to produce highly polished and emotive pieces. However, the artist often finds it difficult to delve into the mindset required to do her subjects justice.
“It takes me hours to switch off my thoughts and become immersed in the work, but when I do, I am flooded by emotions and the weight of its meaning,” she says. “But while the feeling can be very intense at times, and I welcome the interruption of my partner asking if I want a cup of tea, I feel my world would be less lived if I hadn’t experienced these moments.”
Much of her inspiration comes from her professional closeness to the liminal stages of human life, working also as a palliative care physiotherapist. In this context, she is privy to people at their most naked, both fleshly and spiritual. Indeed, her artistic subjects are often naked, rather than nude. Artistic nudity often ennobles the subject, glorifying or revering the physical form. Instead, Ambridge’s works embrace nakedness and the raw emotion that comes from true vulnerability.
Ambridge is currently working on an upcoming exhibition titled Becoming Invisible?, on show at Adelaide gallery praxis ARTSPACE in August of this year, which epitomises her practice. Utilising intimate conversations with a range of women about their personal experiences navigating aging, youth, and mortality, her work aims to confront her audience with the stark realities women face as they age in a society that often objectifies them. The artist is facing a complex issue, one women often confront alone. Her charcoal dust coats the fragile corners of human experience, using art as a tool to enable discussion.
Through her meticulously rendered drawings, Ambridge confronts the realities of what it means to live and be alive. Her expert mark making and impeccable grasp of texture and form convey the innate beauty of vulnerability, encouraging her audience to look closer at the experiences of others, as well as their own. In the words of the artist: “I hope that my work is as catalytic and cathartic for the viewer as it is for me. I hope to create an environment where it is safe to have difficult conversations.”
Featured Image: Artist Margaret Ambridge with avatars for her upcoming exhibition. Courtesy: the artist and Praxis ARTSPACE, Adelaide.