Ukrainian-born, Anastasiya Yakunina aka Ana Kuni, is currently living in and working in Cape Town and has just exhibited at the official opening of the much-anticipated The Argyle with her partner Linnea Frank
Orms Print Room & Framing have been involved with a number of the collaborative brand "KUNIFRANK"'s pieces as they specialize in printing and painting on metal and exhibit bi-annually at Orms Cape Town School of Photography. We thought we'd catch up with Ana Kuni to chat a bit about their work.
The duo were asked to exhibit at the opening of The Argyle, a new gallery in Woodstock, where their work will also be permanently housed. Ana Kuni also painted the feature mural on the entrance wall of the building, an impressive piece of art title 'FLOW'.
Having been a passion of hers since she was a child, painting naturally became Ana's career. But it has been her modeling career that really diversified her style of painting through the opportunity to travel.
'I am influenced by so many cultures, especially Japan and Africa, but mostly I am fascinated by human potential, awakening our true Wild Soul and living to the highest abilities'. This is something that really resonates through Ana Kuni's work, with the main character being the 'Warrior Woman', a conscious, compassionate creative being living in harmony and peace in the abundant universe. 'This Warrior takes her own shape, appearing on the walls around Cape Town, Ystad, Ibiza, Kiev as a mural, as well as making her way on the streets, being painted on fashion items. The character has the life of her own, pursuing one goal-to-inspire, uplift and encourage us to be brave, fierce and authentic'.
You can find the Warrior Woman as well as many other works on display at The Arygle.
On what we can expect from her in the future Ana says, 'I am currently focussing on large-scale canvases and murals but it might change and I will go back to watercolour or start learning sculpture or knitting. To me, these are all just tools, as long as I feel the flow going through me'.
