"Murder Ballads" gloves and works on paper 2013
"Murder Ballads" 2014 at Packer Schopf Gallery Chicago
Murder Ballads are a folk song sub genre that trace their roots back to old English and Irish folk tunes. Sing-Song melodies swirl around lyrics that describe murder and betrayal. This contrast of sweet and brutal, gruesome and beautiful is what drew me to the music and inspired these pieces.
Ellen's personal statement:
"These pieces were made at a personally turbulent time in my life when the lyrics in the folk songs felt too familiar to both past traumas and ongoing personal experiences with domestic violence, divorce and betrayal. I processed my complicated emotions through the simple sing song-y lyrical format and gruesome yet pretty tattoo images. My creative process giving voice to experiences that live in the "depths" of me through the metaphor of drowning and death. Ultimately I am always seeking balance, so in these pieces- while much feels focused on death- there is also a hint at resurrection, revenge and an endurance of spirit through the suffering."