Rachel Hutchison
Degree: BA (Hons) Fine Art
University: The University of Edinburgh
Graduation Year: 2022
New Blood Art Commentary
Rachel Hutchinson, a Scottish artist based in Edinburgh, creates introspective works that delve into the complexities of human emotion and identity. Her practice is deeply influenced by her experiences in therapy, which inform her exploration of the cyclical nature of personal growth. Through painting and printmaking, she visualizes the interplay between repetition and transformation, encapsulating the tension between continuity and change.
Hutchinson’s ethereal figures, free from rigid definitions of gender, invite viewers into a space of reflection and connection. Her work encourages dialogue about shared experiences and emotional resonance, offering a visual language for introspection and understanding. By externalizing her internal world, she fosters an empathetic exchange that bridges individual and collective narratives
Artist Statement
Growing up on the outskirts of Edinburgh, my relationship with art was initially elusive. It wasn’t until I studied Fine Art at the Edinburgh College of Art that I truly found my voice. This journey, influenced by my own experiences in therapy, shaped how I approach art as a medium for introspection and self-understanding.
In my work, I explore the notion of spiralic rhythms – where the essence of repetition is imbued with the inevitability of change. These rhythms, though rooted in the cyclical nature of existence, deviate from the predictability of a perfect circle. Each return is familiar yet profoundly altered. The spiral becomes a metaphor for eternal flux – a symbol of growth, decay, and rebirth. It reflects the paradox of continuity and transformation, echoing the past while never truly repeating it. Through my art, I aim to capture this dynamic flow, where each moment stands unique despite the pull of repetition.
I build upon this concept by exploring how different people relate to their emotions – characterising, personifying, texturising, and colouring them. This practice allows me to give form and movement to ideas. Without figures, an idea feels trapped on the canvas, frozen in time. By embodying these emotions, I create space for evolution, where the figure grows beyond the paint. This process is interactive – changing with each viewer’s interpretation and with my evolving relationship to the work over time.
My artistic practice rests in introspection. Painting and printmaking serve as a means to externalise the internal world – visual representations of thoughts and emotions that exist beyond categorisation. My figures, often ethereal and unbound by strict definitions of gender or identity, represent fragments of myself and the relationships that shape me. They are an amalgamation of my own reflections and the connections I’ve formed with others – family, friends, counsellors, fleeting encounters. These relationships inform the way I approach themes of community, identity, and internal dynamics.
The figures I create are experiences unearthed from deep within, excavated and brought into physical form. In this way, I ask viewers to reflect: Do you see yourself in this figure? Or do you see how different you are? My art becomes a mirror for shared or divergent experiences, fostering a space for contemplation and connection.
This process of characterising, personifying, and texturising emotions began during a depressive episode. Instead of trying to rid myself of the feeling, I learned to describe it. I humanised it, giving it shape and texture – a slow, sticky treacle, heavy but meaningful. By accepting and conversing with it, I stopped trying to "cure" it. Today, I continue to find meaning in its ebb and flow, each encounter bringing new layers of understanding.
Art is my way of making sense of the world. It is a collaboration with all the connections I’ve made – past, present, and future. At its core, it is about fostering reciprocity and understanding through shared experiences.
