Primitive Silence II Painting

Hello, I am Anna. My work has always been inspired by ancient history and the natural world, which have become central themes in my art. I was born in Bulgaria, and now I live in Greece, close to the sea and near many inspiring ancient sites that carry the echoes of past eras. I am a self-taught artist, but I have developed my skills under the guidance of my husband, a professional painter and teacher. My work explores primitive and archetypal imagery through processes of layering, excavation, and erosion. Figures, forms, and patterns emerge as traces rather than illustrations, drawing inspiration from prehistoric cave art, ancient frescoes, mosaics, and early ritual marks. I am interested in the dialogue between past and present, and the way memory, time, and materiality leave visible traces in the surfaces of things. Within this body of work, distinct series explore different archaeological layers of imagery: Excavated Figures – human figures revealed through sgraffito and layered paint, reflecting archetypal gestures and presence. Mosaic Remains – inspired by ancient Greek floor mosaics, these works reinterpret animal figures such as birds, fish, and octopuses. The surfaces carry marks reminiscent of tesserae, erosion, and the passage of centuries. Primitive Silence – abstract and symbolic compositions that evoke ritual, trace, and memory, created through the same process of excavation and revealing. In addition to painting, I create ceramic figures and sculptural forms developed within the same conceptual framework. These works emphasize sgraffito techniques, intentional cracking, chamotte, and rough, tactile surfaces. The ceramic objects carry a sense of age and primal presence, reinforcing the idea of forms that feel excavated rather than newly made. Painting and ceramics are treated as parallel processes of discovery, where material, surface, and gesture reveal hidden structures and memories. Across all media, my approach remains consistent: paint and clay are layered, scratched, and transformed, allowing the image or form to emerge through removal and resistance. The final works function as remnants—quiet witnesses to the continuity of human expression, shaped by time, material, and instinct.