Ansiona, real name Jitka Putnova, is a visual artist based in Cape Town, South Africa, whose passion for painting dates back from her first interaction with a paint-brush. She natively hails from Bro, Czech Republic, and has lived around the world over the years, thanks to her aspirational love for travelling and global cultures.
As a fine art alumni, her artistic practice spans across multiple disciplines, including painting, drawing, and mixed media. Her hands-on and continuous-learning is embodied in her unique abstract, contemporary style.
Ansiona refers to timelessness, as derived from an antique watchmaker. In her art, Ansiona strives to blend elements of timeless storytelling through art, and art that mirrors real-life stories, through time.
As an advocate for femininity, Ansiona’s artwork is deeply rooted in celebrating the power and beauty of womanhood. Her subjects and compositions embody this ethos, capturing the essence of the feminine spirit in all its forms. Through her art, she aims to create a safe & inclusive space for women to be seen and tell their stories without prejudice. Through her art, Ansiona invites viewers to explore the complexities of identity and the interconnectedness of humanity.
ARTIST STATEMENT
PORTRAITS OF THE MIND
This body of work invokes, contemplation, empathy, and reflection, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of mental illnesses and those that are challenged by them. To capture this, a group of 8 unique women were interviewed and told their individual stories which are portrayed in the artwork. Today, more than ever, we co-exist with mental disorders as part of our reality, as much as a human brain remains an existential mystery. The collection peels through these layers to bring its realities closer to the viewer’s eyes than before. This should foster a more informed perspective of our mental states and their relative challenges.
The collection includes a total of 8 paintings of 40 x 40 cm. The medium is Acrylic and Ink on canvas.
