Anna-Kirsten Stapel
My fascination and affinity goes out to the natural world. I marvel about existence and the mysterious role that every living and non-living thing plays in our universe.
Experiencing the delicate interconnectedness of existence and its biodiversity on earth has led me to wander more into the metaphysical realms.
Exploring the transient nature of being and the nature of ‘nature’: considering life and death as part of a cycle as well as an eternal coming and going.
I am a multi-disciplinary artist; trying to capture the essence of a place, creature or the forever-changing landscape.
I use different mediums to create my artworks like painting, drawing, film, photography, sculpture and installation.
I mostly focus on painting but I will not exclude any form of expression.
With my art I hope to ripple a positive impulse and awaken a compassionate attitude in people towards the natural world. I hope people see the emotional connection one experiences of the outside world as an inner-landscape.
I was born in Holland 1989. I moved to Nelspruit in South Africa as a young child. I am now living in Bedfordale in Western Australia.
I have worked as a field-guide in the South African bush and gained a lot of understanding of depth and meaning found in the wilderness. When I returned to practicing art full-time I took this knowledge and combined it with teaching intimate art-workshops.
I have attended Masterclass workshops with renowned South African artists; a one week masterclass printmaking with the legendary and beloved Mimi van der Merwe. I have done oil-painting with Walter Voight as well as Ceramic Works with the celebrated Antjie Newton.
I have sold my art all around the world in private and public collections.
Studies Tertiary: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BA) – Hanze University: Academie Minerva
Groningen, Netherlands 2008-2012
Diploma: Eco-Training, SA (Field Guide Association of Southern Africa) 2014-2015
Secondary: Penryn College, SA (Matriculated) 2007
