Penumbra: A Story of Remote Work by Aubree Dale

Penumbra: A Story of Remote Work began as a solo exhibition in 2019. Initially a probe into the expectations of an individual within our large, modern social networks, I have continued to examine the capacity of loneliness and thoughtful communication in a society where it is almost expected to be an extrovert. After working remotely for a couple of years, I wanted to explore some transitions I underwent coming from years of high stimulus work in the service industry. The solitude and self regulation of remote work has drastically affected how I operate in a group setting and my desire to socialize. Simultaneously, this has fruited extra space to reflect on my own thoughts and helped me reprioritize how I spend energy. The experience of remote work has now become a widely shared experience, and my relationship with it has certainly changed. Since starting this project, I have entered motherhood while living with chronic illness. New elements of anxiety, loneliness and camaraderie were ushered in to an extent I could have never previously imagined. This passage has led me to scale back my eagerness to please and to prioritize transparency in my relationships. I use paintings to explore the complexities of long term, long distance relationships and the mid-zones of solitude and social settings. Video and digital renderings are playing with the freedom of remote work, social consequence and the physical infrastructure of a workplace. Penumbra: A Story of Remote Work began as a solo exhibition in 2019. Initially a probe into the expectations of an individual within our large, modern social networks, I have continued to examine the capacity of loneliness and thoughtful communication in a society where it is almost expected to be an extrovert. I use paintings to explore the complexities of long term, long distance relationships and the mid-zones of solitude and social settings. Video and digital renderings are playing with the freedom of remote work, social consequence and the physical infrastructure of a workplace.