The work of Gabriela Hirt has a sense of breaking through.
Undercurrents of darkness and even hopelessness are confronted with irrepressible joy. In many cases it is not clear which is dominant, creating a fascinating tension in her paintings.
Gabriela Hirt cares deeply about difficult, perhaps unsolvable issues, which she approaches with an undeniable optimism and faith in human nature. This aspect of her character is strongly reflected in her work.
Harsh black lines and almost graffiti-like blocks of colour may reveal figures that are both dancing and fighting for their lives. Pastel pinks and cornflower blues are applied with a raw physicality that underscores their simple beauty with rough edges that bite and even cut.
Relationships between colours, elements and themes are implied and broken down in a single painting.
Her work has a sense of a challenge, both to herself and her audience. Subliminal elements which have a strong emotional force are integrated with explicit themes that address social and environmental issues. The viewer is thereby invited to explore the connection between subconscious feelings and an intellectual understanding of the world.
Ever experimenting and pushing her own boundaries her work is constantly evolving in both insight and playfulness, ever deeper into darkness and joy.
Written by Tanya Bub, friend and fellow artist
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Which hood are you in?
I live and work on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen speaking people aka Victoria, BC
What do you do?
Painting is my passion, preferably large, messy and intuitively. I feel most accomplished when I completely step into the unknown in my process and get rewarded not only by a painting I like but by new insights about myself and human nature.
What are you currently working on?
In my studio, I am working on a painting collection called, “Urban Movement”, continuing my exploration of collective and individual trauma through the bodies of abstracted human figures in relationship with each other. This new collection will soon be up on my revamped Website, which I am hoping to launch by February.
Where can we find your work?
From January 3-30, 2022 a selection of my “Inside Out” painting series is exhibited in Vancouver at the Art@Bentall Gallery, 595 Burrard Street. In Victoria, my art is available at Gage Gallery on 19 Bastion Square, and online at Gage Gallery, as well as at The Massey Sales Gallery. You can find most of my work on Instagram, Facebook and on my website.
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