ELIZABETH GOTTSHALL
ARTIST + FILMMAKER
ARTIST STATEMENT
My art centers on the experiences of myself and others with a particular interest in women and storytelling. Through a combination of printmaking, drawing, photography and film making, I create dreamlike environments and anonymous characters as well as formulate linear and non-linear stories. I express a stream of consciousness through the characters and atmosphere and choose mediums that allow me to easily shape the material. My work focuses on motifs and themes of exploration, emotional states, time, relationships, and femininity. My artwork may have more than one meaning for the viewer based on their own experiences and knowledge and a viewer’s interpretation may differ from someone else’s interpretation.
Recently, rather than presenting my work in a traditional way where the audience is fed the information while sitting, I turned to installations as it is more interactive and engaging. My focus is crafting an active and more engaging experience for the audience when they view my films. Unlike my past films, I chose not to include characters as I want the viewers to be immersed and reflect on themselves and their memories and personal connections to water rather than focus on other figures.