The eternal problems of
the positive - negative relationship, harmony and disharmony are
nowadays discussed with a new urgency. The effort of escaping from the pessimism
of this
world is often shaped by searching for man’s harmony with nature finding the
harmony
within himself or in ancient nations cultures and the inspiration of the oriental
philosophies.
Again occuring scepticism to the rational leads many authors to deepening
their interest in
abstract problems and prefering spiritual values. This can by found by Jana
Semianova’s
creation. Her pictures, many of them created in New Zealand, in the land of
the long white
cloud, are works in Which time flows slowly.
In comparison with the earlier works they have more meditative character radiating
the inner
good humour. She concentrateds herself to the positive energy. The works are
the results of
the author‘s maximum concentration, even her identification with the given
picture, or giving
her own energy into its expression. Energy in her creation is an undulation
transformed into
certain brush touches and strokes. The question of the positive way of thinking
is dominant
and gives fluidity to her pictures.
If we use to say that the creation is the mirror of the author‘s soul, in
this case this sits perfectly.
This loaded creation does not lose its energy after a long time either, as
can be found
in the primitive nations magic arts sculptures. Jana Semianová achieves this
by knowing
many cultures. During her stays in several parts of the world she had the
oportunity to get to
know the different mentalities with different approaches to nature. She devoted
herself to
searching for harmony, peace of mind during the hours of concentrated meditation.
In her
creation there are more symbols coming from the mythology of natural cultures
– symbols
which became an integral part of the culture – spiral, rhombus as the balance
between the
natural and the human, the male and the female. By using these symbolic shapes
she
comes from their original sources respecting their symbolic meaning. An unneglected
theme
in Jana Semianova‘s creation is light, which is a very significant part of
the works and has
great meaning. Therefore her pictures are made by superimposing the particural
layers as the light penetrates the deeper and deeper layers.Light is the positive
value as
darkness becomes the negative expression of the overcivilised world. As she
herself says, it
is also a protection from the aggresive, spiritually degenerated technical
civilisation.
That is why she has devoted herself to the primary elements – air, water and
fire. Her pictures
consist of several layers which are transparent and make an ilusion of the
unknown, inner
existential space. The suggestive appeal of her pictures is achieved by the
short, discontinued
brush strokeds evoking firstly a more dynamic character with soft „colour
touches” in
searching for their optimal combination and mutual harmony.
Although there are some animal motifs in her works, they emerge as if of the
second plan
penetrating the other layers structure which dominates her nonfigurative expression
prefering
the emotional part of her creation. The animal motifs are symbols of freedom
and the
expression of the natural animal instinct, the nonfigurative parts are expression
of the inner
energy and natural synthesis. Last but not least it is a picture of the autor‘s
synthesis with
her own creation.
Ivan Jančár