University of Winnipeg and downtown community newspaper
University of Winnipeg and downtown community newspaper
Layers Exhibition by Anja Studer
Reception: May 10, 7-10pm; Gallery Hours: Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri 12-6pm; Sat 12-5pm, exhibition closes May 22, 2018 6pm
About Anja Studer
Anja Studer was born and raised in Switzerland. After studying fine arts at the ECAV (École cantonale d’art du Valais) in Switzerland, Studer moved to Canada to continue her studies. She studied fine arts at the University of Manitoba and obtained a diploma in photography at Red River College. Studer has made Winnipeg her second home and has continued her work as an artist, exhibiting and selling her artwork in Europe and Canada. Her work is a continued exploration of human existence through illustration, painting, photography, sculpture and installation. Studer recently published a colouring book titled “Familiar Friends” featuring animal portraits exploring the physical nature, personality and character traits of her subjects. Learn more at www.anjastudios.com.
Exhibition statement
We all have different aspects to our personalities. They can be the result of the roles we play in our personal lives and in our careers or just be the fundamental traits we were born with. Over time, we end up becoming complex human beings with many layers just like a Russian nesting doll. We put on masks and hide behind them for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. By realizing that we are all the same, complex beings wearing different masks, we can learn to feel empathy for each other. Is the goal to chip away the different layers to truly see somebody or is it those different layers and imperfections that make us into who we are – complex and beautiful?
This exhibition is a continued exploration of human existence and a natural evolution from my solo exhibitions titled “Home Sweet Home” and “Perception”. This new series of work consists of mixed media paintings, clay sculptures and wooden nesting dolls.
The encaustic paintings are portraits exploring the different layers of each person through abstract landscape paintings or photography combined with illustrations and found objects.
The clay masks show the imperfections and damage life causes. Instead of hiding those imperfections we need to embrace them and realize that all experiences in life, good or bad, make us into who we are.