Deep-rooted

SETAREH is pleased to present the second solo exhibition by London based artist Ania Hobson, Deep-rooted. Having distinguished herself with her enigmatic and expressive figures, in a distinctive graphic style, Hobson continues to push her emotive painterly effects to realize deeper emotive intensity. In this new series of paintings, the natural landscape plays an increasingly important role in the composition. Although the powerful characters that she portrays remain the focal point, the emphasis grows towards their surroundings. Experimenting with textures, thick and thin areas for a new palette which is evolving new effects. This development presents the artist the possibility of experimenting with the potential of texture itself, mixing thin layers of oil paint with the thick and voluminous brushstrokes that are familiar in Hobson’s work. Many of the landscapes in the exhibition are uncultivated environments, mostly forests, in which the characters interact with the fauna and flora. In emphasizing the background, Hobson seeks to point out the connection between humans and nature, drawing the surroundings into their depicted narrative. In Hobson's words ‘With this new series of paintings I am looking at the interconnectivity’s between humans and nature and how it changes our emotions and behaviour and evolutionary psychology. Dreams have been an important source and recurrent theme in Ania Hobson‘s practice for many years now. Condensed and exaggerated scenes are filled with her memories of these visions, depicted in dramatic color. Her recent focus on nature motives are evolved through their relevance to these dreams, exploring how the environment interacts with the psyche as it plunges into Morpheus’ realm. For this exhibition, the artist follows dreams up to the edge of cognition, where the subconscious connects with emotion. Interested in this interplay, Ania Hobson points to the sublime duality of natural surroundings, both soothing and terrifying. Nature and its fauna are no more an escape to reconnect with the self and achieve tranquility, but represents the personal quest to face and overcome our inner fears.