Anna Ruth Studio Visit

We visited Anna Ruth's studio and conducted a brief interview with her. Anna's journey has undergone a remarkable transformation since her debut exhibition at HIDDEN Tachovské náměstí in 2017. Come along as we delve into Anna Ruth's artistic spirit and immerse ourselves in her studio.

How do you feel about your first exhibition at HIDDEN Tachovské náměstí in 2017? Do you find elements from this exhibition in your current projects?

It seems like it was many years ago, like it was in a past life. I remember playing the sound of cats purring and lighting scented wood, putting flowers under paintings. That need to comprehensively address the environment of the exhibition has stayed with me to this day. But the actual paintings have changed a lot; they're much more colorful, and the canvases are bigger. I think it's noticeable that I have more time for it.

After a year in the studio at PRÁM, how do you feel there? Do you think you need to settle into the studio to feel comfortable and create?

I'm very happy at PRÁM, more and more every day. It's finally a safe and free working environment. Sometimes I tend to "overpopulate" the space in the first domestication phase. Then the amount of stuff starts to distract me and I, in turn, get to the point where I try to get rid of everything so I can breathe. That's what's happening to me right now.

What are your plans for this year?

There are some big things coming up! I don't want to give away more yet. It looks like my paintings are going overseas for the first time. I'm looking forward to it, I hope I can do it all. Otherwise, I plan to be increasingly productive at a constant level so that I can enter all opportunities with minimal stress, which has hurt me quite a bit this past year.

If you suddenly had to decide between painting and music performance, which would win? Are these two aspects of creating separate, or does creating encompass both for you?

Thank God I don't have to choose. Music and Painting are vehicles for the same information I am trying to convey through my work. It's connected. Both complement each other and it's the perfect medium. But if I couldn't have it any other way, I'd choose Painting.

In 2021, you said on the HIDDEN podcast that you draw your energy from the forest. Is that still true?

It is! But I have less and less time for the woods, so the sources of renewal are already mainly provided by my apartment, the quiet of my bed, the sanctuary of sleep, phone calls with my mom, and time with loved ones.

Did you get a chance to listen to the podcast again today? Is there anything that has changed for you since then that is different?

It was quite emotional for me to listen back to our podcast, a wonderful artifact. I'm so grateful to have that memory. I may start recording audio journals for reflection after each passing year with a set of the same questions. It's beautiful to realize how much has changed in less than three years. I have definitely met and far surpassed all my challenges at the time. The big difference from my younger self is mostly that I've learned to like a certain kind of routine, although a little different from what most people think of as routine. I see it now as a strength and a perseverance.

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self now?

My 20-year-old self wouldn't listen to me anyway. But I would probably try to convince myself that I shouldn't eat so much chili.

Have you ever thought about what you want your work to pass on in, say, 100 years?

The same thing I'm doing today. Authenticity, emotion, the impulse to experience deeply... Who knows if 100 years from now there will be people looking at the paintings. I hope so.

Thanks Anna for the interview.