Time at a standstill
In Paula Cahen D´Anvers´ work, there is a masterful fusion of discipline with unbridled expression. These two seemingly opposite systems align and
cohabit in harmony.
Averse to established conventions and true to itself, the painting surface emerges as a field of possibilities. The enjoyment brought by this genuine space enables a pleasant dialogue between colors, transparencies and textures.
Sometimes, the structuring element is the line: a line that is not rigid nor forced, but rather reveals a skillful and very confident brush stroke.
Other times, the focus is on some major organic shape, which usually has soft and flexible edges, and is highlighted by the use of contrasting colors.
In both cases, the paintings are the result of a powerful intuitive approach to creativity that has been refined throughout several years of study and practice; the composition speaks an invisible language that can only be shared with those who establish a real connection with the work.
When Paula paints, time stands still. The authority of time is subverted. No longer governed by the hands of the clock, but controlled by internal impulses, a moment may last either hours or minutes. The focus is not on the final product, but rather on experiencing the vacillations and uncertainties involved in any artistic process.
To experience that process without thinking about causes or effects calls for a substantial detachment. And this is where discipline comes into play. It is
only then that real freedom occurs and the identity of the work emerges.
María Lightowler - October, 2021