Museum MORE, Gorssel

October 16, 2022

Anya Janssen | Earthlings

An exhibition of 40 paintings from 1990 to the present from Anya Janssen (1962) gives us an impression of how she sees humanity. But it seems that her portraits are not easy to judge because of their space that is left between reality and fantasy.
MORE is considered to be a guide to Neo-realism, but what I see is somehow realistic and also expressionistic styles in wonderful pastel tints. The paintings sometimes and from a distances look like  created with spray paint. But a closer look shows many beautiful details.
The "spray paint impression" is right because Anya was also inspired by Lowbrow Art (60's, Los Angeles) whit roots in graffiti, punk music and underground comics.

Portraits are very intimate. Young people show their strength and vulnerability, they are growing up. Emotions of those young people are some kind of trademark of Anya's portraits. A main role.
In her own words: "Actually I am a kind of stalker. I observe earthlings as an alien." Hence the title of this exhibition.
At the same time a personal connection with the models is necessary. Even after the artwork is completed, she keeps in touch with them.