Primavera

Janaina Tschäpe
Primavera
2006
152.4 x 302.3 cm
watercolor on paper

Janaina Tschäpe was born in 1973 in Berlin to a Brazilian mother and a German father, and she grew up in São Paulo. Her practice ranges over various modes of expression and techniques from drawing, block-printing, painting, video, to performance.

Throughout her work, she has been focusing on themes that involve elements of both “transience” and “endurance,” as well as of “water,” “life,” “woman,” “memory,” and “pathos.” She draws inspiration from mythology about water and vegetation, and the mystery of creatures that live in water.

“Primavera” means “spring” in Portuguese. This piece makes us feel as if we are standing on a shore, gazing at the blossoming flowers and plants that are reflected in the water, but at the same time, we might be watching the scene from within the depth of the water. The trees, flowers, and grass are painted in vibrant watercolors, and the painting is brimming with a sense of vitality. The beauty and preciousness of the blossoms are felt even more keenly because of their ephemeral life.

(Commentary: Miwa Taguchi / Translation：Yui Kajita)