Home is where the heart is...
PAINTER Natalia Ribes Hankins is celebrating scoring an important goal on home turf her first exhibition in her native Javea and an introduction to her typical emotional abstract work.
Already a veteran of galleries across Spain and abroad, she entered the lottery to showcase her talent in one of the resort’s art galleries for the first time and was “very lucky” to win an exhibition at Ca Lambert in the historic old town.
There are 45 pictures on show in ‘The Roots of the Dream’, both large and small canvasses that captivate the eye with a cheeky blend of real life bound with geometric shapes.
Natalia’s painting utilises symbols and adds colour details to a seductive blend of shades of grey, almost playing with the appearance of dimensional space and using symbols in her work inspired by the ancient Chinese philosophy of I Ching.
It means the pictures utilise a deceptive simplicity “but come from the heart”. Recent Zeppelin shapes - featuring the engineering of huge airships have evolved into smaller bowlshaped curves.
Natalia, also enjoys working as teacher at her studio in Javea’s Arenal. “I enjoy giving the classes very much; I learn from my students every day - they learn from me and I learn from them and it is an opportunity to make beautiful friendships.”
With a Spanish father and English mum, she is proud to be at last showing off an introduction to her work in her hometown and continues to be driven as a professional artist.
“I am always working away like a little mouse in my studio and suddenly there are lots of exhibition and chance to show my paintings,” she said. “I am very lucky, the first time I applied to use the council’s gallery I was successful.”
Natalia believes her work, guided by the Far East philosophy, is about freedom. “It is not easy for me; there are always two parts to my paintings which I try to connect; we understand reality but there is a ‘here’ and a ‘there’.”
She also loves painting portraits. The Javea show includes a picture of her son and a fascinating self-portrait.
“When painting a portrait artists are curious; when you study a face you have the movements of the muscles - the muscles that are working because of their feelings and those feelings give you a map of the face. The challenge of what you see is showing what is inside.”
And to make her work more accessible, Natalia is preparing a series of prints of her paintings. She can be contacted on 649 966 072 or by email to nataliaribeshankins@gmail.com.
The Javea exhibition runs at Ca Lambert, at Calle Mayor 41, until March 14. It is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 until13.00 and 17.00 until 20.00, and on Saturdays from 10.00 until 13.00.