Transparency of memory – Ana B. Hursh + Christian Santana Prinz

Color, energy, nature, sensuality, similar words come to mind not only when looking at the exhibited works but also while meeting face-to-face with Mexican couple Ana B. Hursh and Christian Santana Prinz. Even if we didn’t know their country of origin, Mexico would probably be among the first tips. The expressive use of colors is so deeply rooted in local culture that it is fortunately not disappearing even in works of contemporary artists.

 
In Pilsen, Ana and Christian build on their previous experience of artistic residences from Norway and France. Before picking up brushes in the country artists begin to explore the local environment and countryside in details, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired by meeting the locals. The initial absorption process may take several months. Each artist begins his own work individually by creating a series of sketches and smaller paintings. Work on a common canvas follows. Similar process was at the inception of four large paintings for the exhibition in DEPO2015, in which there is a strong sense of inspiration not only by the buildings of the former bus depot, but also by its wilder surroundings. The artists in their work build on their natural style and interest differences, and this contrast enables mutual harmony and the desire to uncover their surroundings as well as the creation themes. Two initially different ideas stimulate a lively dialog followed by gradual transformation of the initial theme. As a result, such cooperation multiplies the scope and possibilities of the final direction of the work. Thanks to their travels, artists intensively perceive the different approach to color in other cultures; sometimes they make colors themselves from pure pigment so they can better control their palette to give colors greater intensity or subtle sensuality.

In her work, Ana often processes the motif of the female body, the motif of sensuality and eroticism in close connection with nature, which is also the main theme of Christian’s paintings, in which we find ourselves in the middle of forest or in mysterious world under the sea. With a common passion for color intensity, they build an environment where ideas and memories floating between civilization and nature are revealing. The paintings of the artistic couple are the result of a deeply shared sensitivity.

 

Kristýna Jirátová
Curator and exhibition production

DEPO2015, Kreativni Zóna, Pilsen 2019