Ana Magallanes Sánchez, artist
Continuing with the previous interview with Miya Hiro, I would like to feature his collaborator Ana Magallanes Sánchez. This interview focuses on her new adventure in Leipzig and her thoughts on collaboration.
Mexican photographer Coral Castillo Mar kindly helped us communicate as a translator.
Mexican photographer Coral Castillo Mar kindly helped us communicate as a translator.
-You are from Spain. What brought you to Leipzig?
I studied painting and sculpture in college in Spain. After graduating, I moved to Leipzig; it has been about seven months. I decided to come to Leipzig because my brother lives here. I didn’t have any particular plan but wanted to see what would happen.
-Wow, that’s very brave. How did you meet Miya?
We met at Das Japanische Haus. Miya didn’t speak much German, but we communicated through gestures and signs. When I discovered that Miya paints, we started talking about painting together. This painting (see the picture) took... maybe 5-6 hours. Three of us painted straight through without taking any break. It was really fun. Nobody was talking while we were painting.
It’s really funny how it happened because we didn’t speak the same language. I guess the language doesn’t really matter.
I studied painting and sculpture in college in Spain. After graduating, I moved to Leipzig; it has been about seven months. I decided to come to Leipzig because my brother lives here. I didn’t have any particular plan but wanted to see what would happen.
-Wow, that’s very brave. How did you meet Miya?
We met at Das Japanische Haus. Miya didn’t speak much German, but we communicated through gestures and signs. When I discovered that Miya paints, we started talking about painting together. This painting (see the picture) took... maybe 5-6 hours. Three of us painted straight through without taking any break. It was really fun. Nobody was talking while we were painting.
It’s really funny how it happened because we didn’t speak the same language. I guess the language doesn’t really matter.
-Is it the first time for you to live in a different country?
Yes. It has been very interesting to live in a new country and to meet people from different places. You learn that the way you think is heavily influenced by your culture. When I visited Japan, I was so surprised to find out that Miya regularly drinks row eggs. I learned that Japanese people eat row eggs and that it's normal for them. I’ve NEVER thought about it in my life. Then I realized what you believe is only based on your own tradition, based on how you grew up. I've been questioning my culture, tradition, and perspectives and it has been very good.
-How is the new project with Miya for you?
As Miya already explained (see the previous interview), we are making artwork together with local people in different locations. People come with various backgrounds. When we have workshops, we don’t really explain anything to people. We put the canvas on the ground and we just start painting. People gradually join us, sometimes within a few minutes they jump on. I think what they paint show what's important for them at that moment. I think, many years later, it will remind them what was important for them at that time. Everyone who participates in our project is expressing themselves; not only people who paint, but also people who just watch us paint contribute to this project. They are saying something by just being there.
Yes. It has been very interesting to live in a new country and to meet people from different places. You learn that the way you think is heavily influenced by your culture. When I visited Japan, I was so surprised to find out that Miya regularly drinks row eggs. I learned that Japanese people eat row eggs and that it's normal for them. I’ve NEVER thought about it in my life. Then I realized what you believe is only based on your own tradition, based on how you grew up. I've been questioning my culture, tradition, and perspectives and it has been very good.
-How is the new project with Miya for you?
As Miya already explained (see the previous interview), we are making artwork together with local people in different locations. People come with various backgrounds. When we have workshops, we don’t really explain anything to people. We put the canvas on the ground and we just start painting. People gradually join us, sometimes within a few minutes they jump on. I think what they paint show what's important for them at that moment. I think, many years later, it will remind them what was important for them at that time. Everyone who participates in our project is expressing themselves; not only people who paint, but also people who just watch us paint contribute to this project. They are saying something by just being there.
-What does collaboration mean to you?
That’s a good question… Collaboration is to learn together and have fun together. It has been very easy and fun to collaborate with Miya. Before I came to Leipzig, I was at the residency program in Spain. I worked with 15 other artists and I enjoyed the process of working together very much.
When you work with other people, you learn more about yourself. When I work alone, I limit myself - I tend to tell myself “No” or “stop”. I feel freer when I work with other people. Painting with Miya is very inspiring. He starts painting something that I have never thought of. Working with people gives me freedom and different perspectives.
-What is your mission as an artist?
I would like to be an inspiration to others. For me, art is an excuse to connect with people and have fun together.
Thank you for inspiring conversation, Ana!
Ana and Miya are planning on visiting Spain, Africa, England, Brazil and many more countries to do this project.
Photo & Interview by Michiko Saiki
August 21, 2016
August 21, 2016