DANS LE RÊVE
Interview with Priscilla Ainhoa Griscti
​​PUBLISHED IN THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2013

PRISCILLA AINHOA GRISCTI was born in Spain of Maltese parents in 1985, in a small village called Oropesa del Mar in Castellón. At 27 her art is now flourishing and her third solo exhibition is currently being held at the Mdina Cathedral Museum until the end of September 2013.
Erika Brincat meets her to find out more.

You were born in Spain of Maltese parents. Do you feel more Spanish or Maltese?

Although our stay in Spain was short-lived, I remained true to my roots by frequently visiting Spain and my hometown Oropesa. I have always had a strong attraction towards the Spanish culture and from a very young age I always felt inherently Spanish. Although I love Malta, being born in Spain had a great effect on me, perhaps because, as with any child, one's senses are heightened and one becomes more sensitive and perceptive to their surroundings. I believe that as children we absorb things at a much faster rate and are instilled by a natural and deep curiosity about life, where everything appears new and exciting. Hence, I felt that all of this affected me greatly. Even very early in my career, I had always signed my works using my second name, 'Ainhoa'; a Basque name given to me by my parents, which was a name which I always identified myself with.

Did your artistic education take place in Malta?

Yes, it did and started at a very young age where I used most of my free time sketching and drawing. My passion for art continued at my secondary education at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, where I found myself in an environment that urged me towards creativity. I was further encouraged by my teachers during the art lessons by their appreciation of my work, which gave me the courage to continue painting. During my school breaks I often withdrew from the crowds to the safe haven offered to me by the art room, whereby I would incessantly draw and paint seeking to free my imagination. I also made it a point during my breaks to spend some time at our school chapel as a means of finding inner peace. This later helped me to be able to connect and express my art through spirituality. Most of these experiences came as naturally to me as my art, and further education at the school of art, attending life nude drawing and working on sculpture and ceramics with other artists helped me construct a foundation to my works. I later pursued my art studies at De La Salle and after attended the University of Malta where I obtained a B.A. (Hons) and an M.A. Degree in Art History, whilst simultaneously carrying on my practical work at my studio.

When did you hold your first exhibition?

I held my first solo exhibition at the Hotel Le Meridien Phoenicia in Floriana at the age of eighteen. The exhibition entitled 'Hidden Illusions' displayed surrealist works of metamorphosed animals in human portraiture, powerfully expressing nature's destructive force. Being my first public solo exhibition, especially at such a young age, I was nervous as to the reaction it would have on the public. Although I did not hold an inauguration for this exhibition, I was surprised as to how quickly the people found out about it. I was immensely overwhelmed with the nice comments I received, both from local art collectors and foreign visitors. My first two paintings sold in this exhibition were bought by an art collector from Berlin. This purchase together with further comments from collectors, critics and media alike gave me the encouragement to continue to pursue my passion for art.

In March 2011, you were chosen as one of the winners in Saatchi’s online competition. How was this experience for you?

I was given the opportunity to exhibit seven of my artworks at the ‘ARTPARIS’ fair at the Grand Palais de Champs-Elysées, Paris. This was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. Even the place itself - Paris' Grand Palais - was awe-inspiring. To have been exhibiting my artworks amongst the great names in Modern Art, such as Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Kandinsky, and countless others, together with renowned names in Contemporary art such as Liu Bolin, Jan Fabre, Wim Delvoye and numerous others, was undoubtedly an artist's dream and an experience that continuously filled my heart and mind with profound inspiration. However, I was undoubtedly the most blown away by an exhibition outside ART PARIS, which was an exposition dedicated solely to Odilon Redon, showing 256 of his works, each one of which kept me speechless.

Please tell us more about your current exhibition at the Mdina Cathedral Museum.

My current solo exhibition entitled 'Dans le Rêve' (In a Dream World) deals with the concept of dreams and the imagination. This is my third solo exhibition which encompasses around 80 drawings done in mixed media which reveal figurative, expressionist and abstract artworks together with various fashion designs. This exhibition is a collection of carefully selected artworks created during the last five years, since my last independent exhibition called 'Anima del Circo' at the Malta Maritime Museum in 2008.

Although I feel that my roots are firmly ingrained in Expressionism, this exhibition displays various drawings and paintings that capture different phases that I lived through during these past years. Walking through the Mdina Cathedral Museum's refectory, where these artworks are presently displayed, one can easily recognise the gradual stylistic progression which begins with figurative works and ends in abstraction. I purposely placed the works in such succession for one to see the natural progression of dematerialisation from recognisable images to figures that emerge or disappear from clouds, mist and shadows. 

Do you see your art as a bridge between dreams and reality?

Yes, this is one of many aspects in which I view artistic creation. This argument is also what gave birth to the idea of 'Dans le Rêve', since most of the exhibits were in fact inspired directly by my dreams in a manner to further understand reality. On many occasions, I often took note of my dreams in order to manifest my subconscious and unconscious thoughts and desires on paper. Dreams are fleeting images of the mind and seeking to interpret them through art strives to materialize intangible illusions. The result is merely a hint of an illusion but paves the way to understanding hidden meanings in life. It furthermore acts as a bridge between dreams and reality because while some of my works were directly inspired by dreams, on other occasions through art I was able to explore things in life that later evolved into fantasy.

Does art help you to explore your inner world and come out transformed in some way?

Yes it does, very much so. It not only allows me to explore my own inner world but also those of others. I use my art as a form of catharsis, in order to emerge stronger spiritually. Art has helped me understand myself in ways so profound that I doubt I could have ever reached through any other source. This has made me grow to such an extent spiritually, that it makes me yearn to continue growing and maturing as a person and as an artist. The amazing part is that through creating, my artworks pave the way to the right direction in my life, like arrows guiding me. The act of creation immerses me into a realm of pure submission to the work allowing the mind to cease thinking in order to enter into a meditative state of pure focus and letting go. It is one of the most sublime feelings, which is both limitless and indescribable.

​Your art has a strong feminine, dreamy quality to it, do you think such a style transforms the environment where it is exhibited?

Irrespective of the subject which I paint, if my artworks do not transform the place and grab the viewer's attention, then I feel that my work is not worthy of exhibition. When I saw the refectory of the Cathedral Museum, I immediately envisioned it as the appropriate place for my exhibits. Surely the Baroque surroundings create a stark contrast with such contemporary works, however I feel that the tranquillity of the place heightens the artworks in their dream-like, at times nightmarish qualities. This was in fact the feeling I wished to evoke in the viewers, to immerse them into a surreal dream world that I hope will be able to encourage the spectators to explore their own imagination as well as enter into my own.

'Dans le Rêve' can be viewed at the Mdina Cathedral Museum until the 30th September 2013. Opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 9.30am till 16.30pm and Saturdays from 9.30am till 15.30pm. The entrance to the exhibition is free. Visit www.ainhoart.com for more information.