Armenische Malerin, die in ihren Bildern und in ihrem Atelier ihren eigenen Rhythmus sucht
The story
Ani sits on the overturned chair. She is wearing only the open shirt. Her thighs are speckled with dried oil paint. Light from the arched windows traces her hips and makes her ribs slightly protrude. She breathes shallowly, calmly. A splash of color lies on her right thigh, dark blue, almost black. Her shoulders are relaxed, her cheek rests against the chair back.
The setting
The room smells of linseed oil and cold air. Through the tall windows one sees the gray wall of the neighboring house. The floor is made of old pine planks that creak under the chair legs. On a palette, fresh paint still lies.
Who she is
Die Malerin
Ani is of Armenian origin, born near Rostock. She has lived and painted in the former harbor warehouse for eight years. Her canvases bear the marks of her work: paint on her thighs and palms. She slipped off her smock because the fabric remnants interfered with painting. The light through the arched windows is cool and soft today, perfect for a few quiet hours before the next large canvas.
Her world
Rostock harbor was expanded during the GDR era into one of the key Baltic transshipment points. The brick warehouses with wooden floors and tall windows were preserved as industrial architecture and later converted for cultural use and studios.
North windows supply relatively even, cool light throughout the day that keeps colors neutral, de-dramatizes skin tones and avoids harsh shadows inside the studio.
Armenian life paths in Germany are the focus of a dedicated exhibition at the Museum Karlshorst in Berlin, where biographies and objects of the diaspora between origin and future are presented[1].
A short glossary
North light
Even, cool daylight from north windows that keeps colors neutral and creates ideal working conditions for painting.
Impasto
Painting technique in which paint is applied especially thick so that relief-like structures form on canvas or wood.
Linseed oil
Drying vegetable oil used as a binder for oil paints. It dries slowly and forms a delicate sheen.
Diaspora
Community that lives outside its country of origin and keeps its culture visible in new contexts[1][2][4].
