ART AWARDS

Archana Aneja nominee in the Global Art Awards 2018 - "Push your boundaries and Let Life Flow"

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Archana Aneja (born in India living in USA) We often forget to pursue our dreams as we find ourselves simply following the norms and imprisoned within various perceived social, cultural, and prejudicial expectations. However, if we want to live, and not to merely exist, it is vital that we listen to our heart and ignite our passions. We need to push our limits, break the traditional boundaries so that we can maximize our potential and realize our dreams. Having had the unique opportunity to live, study and work as an Architectural Designer in the United States, Germany and India and travel across most of Europe, Archana was able to learn from artistically enriching inter-cultural experiences. Despite the diversity, she observed a binding thread for most people – the pursuit of happiness, love and peace. Archana uses this universal language of art and design to express my emotions and feelings, without any constraints. Grooving to her favorite music, she uses bright, bold palettes, (thanks to her Indian genes), heavily textured layers, acrylic colors, resin and mixed media to create contemporary art and sculpture representing life itself.

My motto for life and career - “Push your boundaries and Let Life Flow!” – is reflected in my artwork.

Tell us about your nominated art piece for the Global Art Awards? 

Several of my pieces have been nominated in different categories for the Global Art Awards this year. I am completely ecstatic about this. The nominations include categories like Textile Art, Sculpture, Innovative Art, Mixed Media and Newcomer. After successfully having made it to the Global Art Awards top three finalists in Textile Art last year, we are back once again hoping to win more hearts and getting the visibility our creative projects deserve.

My nominated art pieces like My Soul Speaks, Harmony, Mixed Media, comprise ofvibrant, bold palettes, heavily textured layers, acrylic colors, resin and mixed media to create contemporary art and sculpturerepresenting my personal life experiences. 

Also nominated is our Clothing line - Let Life Flow. The marriage of beautiful Art and Design is a win-win for everyone involved. Let Life Flow is a result of two creative friends Archana Aneja (Textile Artist) and Sumita Bhojwani (Designer/Owner KalaXpress) merging their soulful passions. This combination has resulted in some dazzling and unique statement pieces. Each garment is patterned and detailed using original and exquisite Abstract Art that cannot be replicated. The style is contemporary, sophisticated and yet quite comfortable.Free spirited, vibrant, sculptural and full of life, each piece has a mesmerizing quality to it. The aim of this collaboration is to give people from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to buy unique artistic clothing at affordable prices. The freedom to choose clothing that represents their individuality, personality and dreams. The courage to break their boundaries and Let Life Flow!

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How would you describe yourself? And your artwork?

I am a creative soul. I go with the flow of life. I live in the present and every morning is a fresh start. I don’t like to plan ahead. I accept things as they unravel and I am often content with the results (sometimes driving my close ones insane due to my rationalization). My art is a true extension of me. My art is based on the motto: Break your boundaries and let life flow. Often it is free flowing, loud, vibrant, and shiny and an amalgam of many mixed media, which come together to form a harmonious whole.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

My personal life is my biggest inspiration. I was born in India and grew up in a very small town. My parents worked hard to give me a comfortable childhood and world-class education. I was always artistically inclined and won several awards in this field as I was growing up. My interest in sketching, painting and visual arts led to a Masters degree in Architecture. Professionally working as an architectural designer in USA for over a decade further enhanced my interest in color, design and composition. A few years ago I moved to Europe and had the chance to immerse myself in the rich cultural and artistic history there. With my spouse supporting my creative endeavor, I decided to take the plunge and make art my full time commitment. I find inspiration in ups and downs of my everyday life, in societal issues, in nature, in motherhood, in architecture, and in my rich Indian heritage. 

Can you tell us what your 'Before I Die' is?

‘Before I Die’ I would like that art is treated as a serious career choice and artists are given the credit they truly deserve.  The journey from a small Indian town to where I stand today has been an amazing one. Most often, the choice of choosing art as a full time profession or means of livelihood is hard for people to digest. I’ve often been questioned about leaving a secure 9-5 job to pursue my passion. I sincerely hope to continue on this path till the day I die and hope that my dedication and commitment inspires many more women and men to do the same.

Best exhibition ever participated in…?

In the past few years, I have had the good fortune of being able to participate in many Group, Juried and Solo Exhibits for art and textiles across the globe. Each one of these exhibits has been a great learning experience. My exhibits include… 

Arte, Sindelfingen, Germany
Affordable Art Fair, Milan, Italy
ArtExpo, New York, U.S.A. 
RAW Artists VERVE and Magnify, Things Feel Heavy, Gilda’s Girls, The Heat is On, NSO, Man in the City Event, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

Shows for Textile Art Collaboration w/ KalaXpress 

Trendzwest and Trendz in Bradenton and Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A
WWIN Women’s Wear in Nevada, Las Vegas, U.S.A.
Ms. International World Pageant: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line 

For a full list of exhibits please visit www.archanaaneja.com

VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST IN THE GLOBAL ART AWARDS 2018

URLs:

Website: www.archanaaneja.com

Twitter: archanaanejaart

Facebook: Archana Aneja 

Instagram: archanaaneja

 

 

 

YuanChi Chang Illustrator from Taiwan - her creations will make you feel touched.

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YuanChi, born in 1994 and living in Taiwan. She became a full time illustrator since her first picture book that was published in 2017. Most of her works are painted with watercolor.

"I love the texture of paint and papers. I often draw young women, cute animals, and beautiful landscape."

YuanChi tells us that people feel that her artworks are full of warmth, therefore, she decided to create more affecting illustrations, and write inspiring stories.

Besides, she is also a cat lover, she has two adorable cats, they often show up in her works.

Tell us about your nominated art piece for the Global Art Awards?

“Heartbreaking” is an illustration about a woman filled with sadness. I thought of this scene once I was also really sad. I don’t feel like to do anything or going anywhere, just wanted to lie on bed forever. Fortunately, cats are also a kind of animal which can sleep whole day, their accompany made me less lonely. It was sad, but warm and peaceful.

How does it make you feel that you are a nominee for the Global Art Awards?

It is exciting! It’s really a happy thing that my artworks are liked.

What are you looking forward to it most at the Global Art Awards Ceremony?

I’d like to know more artists from world, and I wish I can let more people know about my country, Taiwan.

How would you react if you win a Global Art Award at the Armani Dubai Burj Khalifa surrounded by international Press and the Elite from the Art World?

I must be shocked! I think I will cry.

How would you describe yourself? And your artwork?

I think me and my artworks are alike, we have harmless appearance, but contained complicated emotions inside.

What drives you? 

I like to draw things since I was a baby, it’s my favorite thing, so I wish I could become a professional. Also, my family gave me a lot of supports, I wish I could make them proud. And the most important thing is, I have stories to tell.

What is your definition of art?

Creations which make people feel touched.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My characters are based by me, my pets, or people I knew. My stories are about things I’ve met or heard. And I capture beautiful designs from some famous brands.

My favourite Artist of all time is?

Hayao Miyazaki

How do you deal with artist's block?

I think regular working is good for artists, with good spirits, we can create better artworks. I’m still working on it.

Where do you see your art going in ten years?

I think I will write a lot more story books. And I’d like to show my artworks to the world, not only in Taiwan.

Can you tell us what you have going on right now?

I am trying to publish a new picture book by crowd funding. Apart from this, there are some cases cooperating with brands and social institutions.

Can you tell us what your 'Before I Die' is?

Before I die, I want to try parachute jumping from an airplane.

I know my artwork is finished when…?

When I couldn’t find any place to paint.

Best Commissioned artwork ever done was…?

There’s a children’s book commissioned by a famous publisher, the story is about an older cat which want to throw away the younger cat, but they finally become good friends. I like it because the story is warm but naughty, and the publisher gave me a lot of freedom to work on the paintings.

Which are your favorite artists?

I love animation artists like Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai, their works are epic.

Also, I love impressionism artists like Monet or Renoir, their paintings are about daily life, but beautiful and touching.

Greatest achievements so far…?

I’ve wrote a story called “Mon-Mon and his dinosaur friends”, which is about how to understand people who are different from ourselves. It’s telling some serious society issues, but it’s cute enough to let people accept.

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Vote for your favourite artist in the GLOBAL ART AWARDS 2018

FOLLOW YUANCHI ONLINE:

Website: yuanchi.myportfolio.com

Twitter: twitter.com/ChangYuanchi

Facebook: facebook.com/yuanchisart
Instagram: instagram.com/yuanchisart

Heikedine Günther "Art does not reflect the visible, but makes visible."

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Heikedine Günther was born in East Westfalia in 1966. She grew up in a rural area surrounded by her large family. Nature and the domestic garden provided her playgrounds. When she was 16 years of age Günther met the charismatic artist Joseph Beuys in Kassel. She took part in the project 7000 Oak Trees at Documenta 7 in Kassel (1982). After leaving school she attended Manhattanville College in New York and then furthered her education at the HFBK in Hamburg studying under Werner Büttner and Franz Erhart Walther. Simultaneously she attended as a guest student in Kassel under Martin Kippenberger’s supervision.

1991, directly after the “turnaround”, the artist moved to Berlin. During her time there she worked in various creative areas and painted figuratively. In 2004 she painted her first imagination of her inner core. Until today Günther is dedicated to the topic of the core (self). In 2009 the artist moved to Switzerland, where she lives and works both in Basel and near Lucerne. In 2015 the artist decided to dedicate herself full time to art again and to bring the Kern as a universal symbol into the world. Günther has always worked artistically, but she felt the importance to bring the message of her work to the public. Especially in a hectic time like nowadays the return to the (inner) core is of a particular need. Since then, the artist has created hundreds of artworks and participated in a considerable number of exhibitions and art fairs in an international context. All her works are professionally archived. The artist herself is a collector of Tribal Art and silk Ikat textiles from Usbekistan and Russia. Besides Günther also engages herself with garden architecture-, furniture- and product design. The artist also brings together more than 20 years of knowledge about and work with medieval manuscripts and rare books.

Tell us about your nominated art piece for the Global Art Awards?

All of my Kern Paintings start with a gold-primed canvas ground that serves as a reflective surface, in the following process I apply three to seven layers of paint. The diptych "Kern No. 334, 335" displays two cores in a frame each. They are turned towards each other, but separated through the space in between the canvas. The cores represent the yearning for life and love, as well as the melancholy about separation. Water as a life-giving element takes up this symbol. The sky and the light stand for freedom, who rest over the yearning for life as an unbounded horizon. The diptych is painted with 21 different, hand-mixed blue tones that contain various oil colors and pigments. The blue of the sky and the sea is the color of unfathomability and infinity. Underneath the the blue, colors range from red to orange and deep violet. 

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How does it make you feel that you are a nominee for the Global Art Awards?

I am very happy and honoured to be nominated for the Global Art Awards. For me it is the personal breakthrough of a horizon to show my work in the United Arab Emirates.

How would you describe yourself? And your artwork? What drives you?

I am a German artist who lives and works in Switzerland. I devote myself with full energy and time to my art. In my work I explore the theme, symbol and form of the Kern (core). With the Kern and its inexhaustible potential to create an individual process of growth, the origin of life and the ever-recurring question of when and under which conditions this Kern begins to unfold. I am inspired by philosophy and history as well as by antique art, introducing the nimbus or the mandorla – a divine symbol – in my works. This sign can be found in all religions and cultures. I want the Kern to be seen as a universal symbol as same as I want to leave something behind that lasts longer than my life.

What is your definition of art?

"Art does not reflect the visible, but makes visible." (Paul Klee)

Where do you get your inspiration?

I take my inspiration from all religions and cultures of the world. As well as philosophy, science and nature. For example, I am fascinated by the Shiva Lingam stone from India, forms of solar systems, the Nimbus or the Mandorla, but also quite ordinary "natural" forms such as a potato, a rice grain or a bean.


Can you tell us what you have going on right now?

I work 8-10 hours a day in my studio. I paint pictures for exhibitions, gather materials for large projects, search for art historians and curators to write about my work. The next big project deals with the golden fleece, the Fur of Chrysomel from Greek mythology. I'm also interested in the connection between art and mathematics, so I'm currently developing a vector space with a sacral point on a mathematical basis.


Best Commissioned artwork ever done was…?

One of the biggest and well-known Mark Rothko collectors from the USA commissioned me to sell him some of my paintings. He immediately bought 5 works, although he had just seen one of them. I sent the paintings to the USA and he sent me in return pictures where you could see my works hanging on the wall in his house. That was a very overwhelming moment for me.


Best exhibition ever participated in…?

The best exhibition was my solo show at the Art Paris Art Fair at the Grand Palais Paris, where Switzerland was last year the guest of honor. My work could be seen in the renown Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper and in the Swiss Tagesschau news on TV. 

Also, the fair resulted in a participation in a very well curated group exhibition at the CAC Meymac in France. There my works are still displayed until October.

Which are your favorite artists?

My favorite artists are Anish Kapoor, James Turrell and Anselm Kiefer.

Would love to exhibit my work in…

La Biennale di Venezia, documenta Kassel and Kochi-Muziris Biennale. 

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