Interview: Anna Alfanana
Luca Curci talks with during CONSCIOUSNESS, second appointment of ANIMA MUNDI 2024, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Anna Khrustaleva, known by her stage name Anna Alfanana, is a Russian contemporary abstract artist. Influenced by the ancient walls of the Orthodox Christian Spasso-Prilutsky monastery and the incredible Dionisy frescoes in her childhood, her art takes form in abstract paintings about the idea of soul rebirth.
Anna Alfanana attended the North Vologda Art School, where she obtained a degree in art. She furthered her education by earning bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees from Saint-Petersburg State University. Additionally, she holds an EMBA diploma from Kingston University of London. In creating paintings Anna applies three main scientific laws: multilayer oil technique, colour-light conductivity and chemical colors interactions. The main idea in Anna’s paintings is permanent spiritual rebirth and belief in unlimited possibilities. It is self-belief expressed in the form of yellow triangles symbolizing stability and sustainability as a base for self-development. Through her artworks, Anna Alfanana invites us to embrace the authenticity of our own experiences, reminding us that amidst the chaos of life. Art serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path to self-discovery and personal transformation. Anna’s paintings represent a harmonious marriage between impressionism’s emotive allure and the boundless freedom of abstract expression, inviting viewers into a realm where time surrenders to the allure of the moment.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Anna Alfanana – I’m a Russian contemporary abstract artist. I feel the influence of two controversial sources on my artworks – God and Science. I felt greatly influenced of the ancient walls of the Orthodox Christian Spasso-Prilutsky monastery and the incredible Dionisy’s frescoes in my childhood. In the 15th century Dionosy, a contemporary of Leonardo and Botticelli, painted in the atmosphere of spiritual rebirth and massive reconstruction of Russia. So, while I’m painting, I feel the waves and the energy of God inside. It’s like a spiritual flow that runs through my whole body. For me God’s color is yellow. There are yellow triangles on each of my paintings symbolizing internal stability and sustainability, which are keys for self-development and self-belief. Talking about science, I create paintings from a scientific point of view too. It leads to three scientific features of my abstract paintings: – the application of multilayer oil colors technique that allows to the creation of painting depth; – the application of oil colors light conductivity that allows to create of painting glow; – the application of chemical oil colors interaction that allows the painting to live for thousands of years.

LC – Which subject are you working on?
AA – The main idea of my abstract paintings is the presentation of internal stability and sustainability of the form of yellow triangles as a necessary base for our spiritual development and belief in our unlimited possibilities. I’m sure we have boundless potential and try to empower people to pursue their dreams and aspirations in case when we are internally balanced. I see my artwork as catalyst for self-belief, reminding individuals of their innate power to shape their destinies and in general making the world a better place. Because all we need to catch, to rock this wonderful life is to take action.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
AA – Over the years I always felt one and the only internal strength – genealogical Russian ancient orthodox roots. It is my identity and internal light. I played a lot and spent time painting near the Orthodox Christian Spasso-Prilutsky monastery and incredible Dionisy frescoes in my childhood. So I feel God inside of me, and God’s spirit is expressed in my paintings. You know, physically and spiritually you just feel like you provide waves of God through your body, your hands while you are painting. And abstract style of painting helps me to show such a spiritual and elusive, multifaceted and magical style of art and internal empire.  

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
AA – I needed 20 years to open my own abstract style with specific techniques and colors. When I was a student I tried symbolism and realism before I opened my soul to abstractionism. In my childhood, I felt great influence of chemistry and physics. My mother is a chemistry teacher and my father is a physics teacher, thus over the years I was enjoyed understanding how everything works in the Universe, how we combine different elements and colors, and make experiments. So, creating a painting I always pay attention to such scientific laws. Also over the years I have created my personal main three values inspiring me in my abstract paintings. The first value is the value of self-belief. I do believe that one can indeed change the world. The second value is love as a magical mantra. When you feel your soul is deeply touched by love, your potential reveals and motivates you to take the first steps in your mission and take action. The third value is feeling the excitement of life’s journey. I embrace the dynamism and excitement of my adventures with courage, enthusiasm and gratitude.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
AA – For me, the core value is a possibility through abstract painting to show and to provide sense of self-belief, belief in unlimited possibilities. I feel deeply satisfied and proud by myself when I see my artwork completed because I feel I have created a unique piece of art in the world, which will influence people and will help the to feel their mission, to find the meaning of their lives. I do believe that art has the power to reshape perspectives, enrich lives, and forge connections between the self and the sublime. I feel happy, because invite people to embrace the authenticity of their own experiences, reminding them that amidst the chaos of life. My art serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path to self-discovery and personal transformation.  

LC – Your last artistic production attracted us, has the artwork presented been created for the exhibition or as a part of preexisting works?
AA – The painting I exhibited is named “Red Sun” from the collection “The Way of life choice”. I made it in 2023 with 5 multilayers of oil colors with yellow triangles symbolizing spiritual balance. This painting represents one of the main themes of art – theme of love. The painting reflects that through love a person comes into contact with the future, with eternity, with the ethnicity and confession to which he or she belongs, with all the past of humanity and with all its future destiny. In the love of two people, in their attraction to each other lies the great mystery of life, the mystery of creativity. I think this idea is very close to the festival aim of the Anima Mundi Consciousness Art Fair during 60th Venice Biennale of Art – to discover multiple forms of hidden connections between soul and the body.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
AA – I think every artist is responsible for the painting. And I believe that every painting has a soul, a heartbeat of the painter. It lives in the time in which it is seen, not only in the time it is made. Thus artworks are alive. And people bring to paintings time. People give paintings time. This is exactly what paintings are looking for. And it is exactly something that nobody has any more. That is why I do agree with ITSLIQUID understanding that there is a hidden connection between the soul and the body, mankind and the natural elements. Everything is connected and we should find a balance between our soul and body. And my goal is to help people to believe in themselves using the strength of such soul and body connection. And I will be honest because only honesty works in this case. So my paintings are there to change how we look at our life, always identifying mission and beliefs. When you are one-on-one with the painting you feel how it inspires and empowers you just standing in front of the painting. And it has such effect for a reason – because it visualises the truth, beauty and belief.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID Group can represent an opportunity for artists? 
AA – I lived and studied for a long time in Saint-Petersburg, Los Angeles and London. The main thing I liked the most in my personal life experience is diversity and opportunities – making discoveries, celebrating victories, overcoming failures and developing yourself. In my opinion, this is exactly what ITSLIQUID Group can offer for the artist’s diversity and opportunities. ITSLIQUID Group creates top-quality events and materials – strong, provocative, catalysts. The team understand art history, has a good sense of storytelling, unique voice with new ideas and a sense of the time. And people are confident that what they are going to see will be top-quality. For me, ITSLIQUID Group is a platform, that has a real opinion and believes that having disagreements makes life better, and makes people better.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us? 
AA – I’m experienced in international science and business. I attained bachelor’s and magister degrees in Saint-Petersburg State University, PhD degree in Saint-Petersburg State Economic University, had internship at Pepperdine University of Los Angeles, EMBA diploma in Kingston University of London. Also in parallel with painting, I developed my business career as Head of Legal in big international pharmaceutical companies and opened the media website “Razriad” about mass culture and sport. Thus I can fully confirm my appreciation of cooperating with ITSLIQUID Group due to the following principles: transparency of relations; artist support; availability and quality of products, consulting and service support for artists; high-tech infrastructure to provide artists with effective and unique products; responsibility in developing art innovative activities; creating and transferring knowledge base in the field of art via articles publications and creation of art events; mission of art discoveries by providing effective and affordable services and products; good faith, keeping promises to artist;- individualized approach to artist according to cultural specifics and personal goals of an artist; feeling that each team member, regardless of his position, is focused and aware that his actions have a direct impact on the artist he works for; value dialogue with artists and welcome feedback for sustainability strategy of development.