Self-portrait shot at Candid Studios, London
Background
I would say I’m an artist first and foremost, but that wouldn’t quite do my creative journey justice.
Born in Sydney and raised in southwest London, there were early signs I was made for the arts—including a Highly Commended entry I designed for my MP’s Christmas card competition in the early 2000s and a full-length manuscript for a fantasy novel I submitted to my teacher when I was eight—but the real turning point was when I started collecting magazines as a tween. From the scrapbook-style chaos of Company to the minimalist output of Cereal (both now defunct), I was enamoured by this marriage of type with image and was inspired to code and write several lifestyle blogs of my own (also now defunct). Though I grew disillusioned with the burgeoning influencer world, I decided to make graphic design my career, applying to Central Saint Martins for an art foundation and then a degree in Graphic Communication Design.During my time at university I worked part-time and freelance in design, photography, events and marketing, which was some of the most fun I’ve had but almost entirely commercial. The second year of my course steered me towards more social-impact oriented work; then after half-a-year living in the US during COVID-19 and racial tensions flared by police brutality, I knew that the most rewarding and meaningful path for myself was to combine my skills and interests to advocate for people and planet. The disconnect and destruction I witnessed made me feel hopeless; if I weren’t a cynic before then I’d definitely become one over the course of that year. But I decided to do something with that frustration, organising it into a photo book which I self-published in November 2020 to raise money for the unhoused populations where I’d lived; and I also launched The DAI˚ALOGUE, something of a homage to my blogging days, but this time I was using the platform to highlight lesser-known stories, local communities and mutual aid.
Wanting to understand the complexity of our current systems, and experience the world from a different perspective, I moved to South Korea to obtain a Master’s degree in Global Affairs & Policy. I was confronted by a new language, culture and course of study that challenged the way I thought and expanded my field of view beyond a previously Western, Eurocentric lens. After three supercharged years of academia, travel and connections with kindred souls, I returned to the UK in 2024, emboldened to help others through my work and document it for posterity.
I don’t know what the future holds, and the diversity of my experiences might have left me with more questions than answers, but I believe that we are for each other. From my taste in film to the overarching themes of my paintings, it’s clear I’ve always been more interested in the real, dark, gritty truth of what it means to be human, but ultimately I’m still in pursuit of a fairer world because a part of me knows the good we are capable of and the way it can transform a life. I’ve seen it firsthand, I know it exists...I want to be part of it.
I’m currently working on my next book(s), relaunching The DAI˚ALOGUE and searching for a full-time role that will support my long-term vision. I’m also open to freelance design projects, photography enquiries and strategy/consultancy for brands and individuals; please get in touch for more information.
Yours,
Emma Dai
October 2024
Emma Dai
October 2024