Emily Hana (b.1990) is a Tokyo born Australian multimedia artist who explores the ethereal nature of light, transforming it into a three-dimensional material that shapes our perception of space, evoking nostalgia and introspection. Her work focuses on intimacy, both internal and interpersonal, often using discarded objects to create evolving, multidimensional pieces that reclaim beauty from the disregarded.
Hana's current series, "The Hugging Machine," examines loneliness and artificial intimacy, inspired by her childhood creation of a hugging device to cope with isolation. Since 2020, she has expanded into painting, combining sculptural forms and light with the physicality of woodwork. Her work has been featured in notable exhibitions, including the Royal British Arts Rising Stars Exhibition (2023) and Glimpses (2022), and she was shortlisted for the RBA Rome Scholarship in 2023 and 2024.