Anna Suwalowska
Artist, Project Artistic Lead
Anna Suwalowska, a London-based Polish artist, holds degrees from the Royal College of Art in London (2013) and the Camberwell College of Art (2011). Anna has served as the Artistic Lead of a collaborative project in McGregor Museum, Kimberley.
She brings a unique perspective to her work at the intersection of art, medicine, and science. Rooted in explorations of the subconscious, self-expression, and the human mind, her art leads to ongoing research on psychological landscapes. Her paintings serve as a basis for interdisciplinary collaborations involving practitioners from diverse fields.
A significant achievement of these partnerships is the solo exhibition “Beyond the Body: a portrait of Autopsy” (2020-2023), which challenges societal taboos surrounding death. This exhibition travelled to Belgium, the UK, South Africa and Singapore and was chosen by the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization, for display at the UN City in Copenhagen, illustrating how behavioural and cultural factors contribute to improving health outcomes for individuals, communities, and the planet.
Anna's artistic journey is marked by her international exhibitions and residency awards in Taiwan, Norway, and Hong Kong. Her most recent solo show, 'Psychological Landscapes' (2023), was featured at the Somers Gallery in Somers Town, London.
Instagram: anna_suwalowska
Reflections on the Project (May 2024)
At the core of the "Homage to the Departed" programme, I took on a challenge to undertake a project designed to help artists develop their practice and portfolios and foster interdisciplinary research and a deeper understanding of the intersections between art and science and ethics.
The project has been interwoven into museum collections that allowed artists to include some key elements using narratives of the past. The key idea was to intersect with real objects, and artists were encouraged to explore connections between their personal interests and the rich cultural heritage of Kimberley and South Africa. Drawing inspiration from local collections, they infused their own stories and perspectives into their work, thus bridging cultural divides and creating narratives that resonated with their own backgrounds.
I was delighted to witness the diverse group that emerged from the open call and their commitment to the project. Leveraging my extensive international artistic experience, I have always been inspired by people and their diverse cultures. I firmly believe in each person's creative potential and unique individuality, as well as our collective unity. This belief was profoundly important when guiding individual approaches within a diverse group. I firmly believe in each person's creative potential and unique individuality, as well as our collective unity. This belief was profoundly important when mentoring individual approaches within a diverse group.
The project had several multidisciplinary layers, thanks to the intersection of disciplines and their multicultural nature. This experiment builds their artistic and personal strength. The creative vision behind the programme was stimulated by engaging discussions and exposure to academic research. I provided the artists with insights into my own artistic practice as a starting point, eagerly anticipating how they would develop their artistic voices by connecting with their heritage and the research about the ethics around death and dead bodies shared by Halina. I sincerely appreciate the involvement of Prof David Morris, an archaeologist, who gave us a deeper understanding of the past and the present and allowed us to get closer to the collections of the museum and the archaeological archive about the relevant subject matter.
The 'Homage to the Departed' project was not without its challenges. We grappled with the complexities of the contemporary socio-political landscape and the overarching question of how art can be effectively implemented to enhance people's lives and foster a sense of belonging to cultural institutions in Kimberley, South Africa. However, these challenges only strengthened our resolve and commitment to the project. As the project drew to a close, it culminated in establishing the Kimberley Art Collective. Looking ahead, we hope to see the collective continue to grow in both membership and the scope of its projects.