Untitled Document

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Abstract emotional exploration
By Radhika Dandeniya
"In art it is difficult to say something equivalent to nothing," says Swiss artist Anna Mueller, who has her latest creations on show at the Paradise Road Gallery in Colombo. She has been described as a most "versatile" artist, whose themes are both highly individual and symbolic. Her art promises to 'shock' Sri Lankan spectators, as it is the first time an exhibition of this kind has been featured at the gallery.
Anna Mueller was born in a little town on the Italian- Swiss border in 1960. She spent a great deal of her youth living with artists and therefore developed her own personal interest in painting: "When I was young I used to get into fights at school because there was no place where I could paint on my own," she reflects.

Having schooled in Switzerland, Mueller obtained a diploma in Interior Design. She then worked with various design firms in Italy and Switzerland such as 'Rosenthal' and 'Stressle Design'. Other careers she has previously followed include theatre costume design, and conducting workshops in Africa. Subsequently she realized that she had a great need to indulge in self -expression; " I got fed up! I don't like catering to people's preferences; I prefer to express my own self in my art," she affirms defiantly.
She has presented her work several times in Switzerland and Africa and has sold various collections in Israel, France and Australia. However this success has not been the driving force of her creativity; "I don't want to make big money with my art,' she says, " it is my life, my dream, and is now happily my job!"

Mueller is noted for her ability to create a variety of artwork. "Her techniques are so different; she combines all sorts, both new and old to enhance her own work," says her husband Ivan, who comes from a family of artists and has always supported Anna in her artistic career. Both Anna and he moved to Colombo in April last year due to his working for the ICRC.

What art audiences will find particularly interesting in her array of wall hangings and paintings is the personal quality in her subject matter. Concentrating on her life experiences, Anna Mueller brings to her spectators an emotional exploration of her values, joys and overcoming struggles. One such example is 'Finistre' (Italian for window) in which two windows are painted against a dull gold background with patches of dark colour. They are very significant to Anna; "Windows are like space outside my mind, I always wish to have them in my life," she remarks.

One prevailing technique used in her work is 'Tempera', an age-old method by which paints are made using the natural colour pigmentation found in crushed stones, herbs, tree bark and/or plants. The use of such earthy materials combined with her metaphysical expression enhances the raw emotion in her compositions.

When asked why she thought her art would shock the Sri Lankan public Anna answers that from what she has seen, Sri Lankan artists are very traditional in their art and do not really explore the abstract aspect of it.

Sponsored by Nestle Lanka and the Swiss Embassy, the Anna Mueller exhibition continues until May 23. Proceeds of catalogue sales will go to the Sunera Foundation, which holds theatre workshops for disabled children.

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