Priscilla Ainhoa Griscti is holding an exhibition of her art until 30 September at the Cathedral Museum in Archbishop Square, Mdina.
Dans le Rêve (In a Dream World) is a very unusual and versatile exhibition. This is Ainhoa's third solo art exhibition which encompasses around 80 of her best-selected artworks. It is the product of five years of Ainhoa's relentless creativity. Her artistic productivity reveals various branching out of styles and media, of which their roots are ingrained deeply in expressionism. This exhibition displays various drawings and paintings that capture the different phases and subjects that the artist lived through during these years. Strolling through the exhibition that is found in the majestic refectory of the Cathedral Museum, one can easily sense the gradual stylistic progression, which begins with figurative works and ends in abstraction. The succession of works reveals a surreal metamorphosis that shows the artist’s maturity and natural progression of dematerialisation born from thought, vision and emotion.
Inspired by her dreams, which she often took note of in order to manifest her subconscious and unconscious thoughts into reality, this exhibition revolves around the mysterious nature of dreams and how they unfold. These artworks reflect those exploited by the artist while awake through her unyielding imagination and those explored through sleep, in her subconscious dreams.
In Dans le Rêve one is exposed to frivolous and colourful fashion designs that delve deeply in the artist's conscious imagination and her desire to express emotion through design. One can also see dreams, which express Ainhoa's more ambitious nature, which often lends itself to the beautiful, the bizarre and the extraordinary. Many of the exhibits reveal abstract artworks that give strong allusions towards the figurative and invite the viewers to have dreams of their own and to see in the artwork that which only the viewer wishes to see. The exhibition is further heightened by a few unique pieces on a large scale that show hints of realism and explosions of expressionism.
Ainhoa strives to bring to light, hidden truths that emerge through her dreams, in order for her to acquire a deeper understanding of herself and her inner world. Through a thorough study of dreams as seen through the lens of an artist, one begins to understand that although dreams are not always beautiful it does not mean that a hidden beauty within sadness does not exist. Though most people seem to suppress their bad dreams, fears and weaknesses, Ainhoa seems to stand up and face them, by confronting them and analysing them through creation. Such are the dreams that many of us go through at some point in time, which allow us to sympathise and relate to the artist and her works.
Ainhoa uses her art as a form of catharsis, in order to emerge stronger spiritually. In any style or medium she takes at hand, she always points the way towards love and goodness, where through darkness there is always a ray of light or a glimmer of hope. Each of her abstract works reveal a profound depth into the soul. Such strokes of the brush are not random or spontaneous but are well thought out and are carried out through very precise movements. In studying dreams, she understands more about reality, as she can compare and study both life itself as well as areas, which she feels are unexamined or unexplored.
Visiting Dans le Rêve will immerse you into a dream world that will allow you to explore your own imagination as well as enter into the surreal vision of a young artist for which her dreams have no limits.
The exhibition is open until 30 September from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4.30pm, Saturdays between 9.30am and 3.3pm at the Cathedral Museum, Archbishop Square, Mdina. Entrance to the exhibition is free. Some of her other works, that are not on display, can also be viewed on her official website www.ainhoart.com