Ana Navas
Ana Navas’ (*1984) practice is a combination of various art forms, including sculpture, video, painting, and performance. In doing so, it focuses on user, design, and art objects in the broadest sense of the word. As a sort of researcher, she explores the genealogy – the origin and development history – of such objects. She uses both a historical and a fictional approach to raise questions about the relationship between form and function and between “original” and “copy” of objects. In humorous and inventive ways Ana Navas shows that what we are – or better what we are required to be – is constructed and communicated through simple and seemingly inoffensive objects and behaviors. How is it possible that an object, such as an ironing board, is anchored in the collective memory of millions of people around the world? And how does the meaning of universal forms change in different contexts? According to Navas, this subject is important for artists and the process of creating art and design works. Where do makers get their inspiration and creativity from? To what extent is it possible to come up with an object or idea entirely on your own? Or are they by definition merged elements of things that you have seen before? And if so, to what extent can you actually claim that something is your idea?
In addition, Navas investigates how art is perceived outside the art context and where visual arts and disciplines such as design, ethnography, fashion, decoration and the relationship between “high” and “popular” culture touch each other and make connections with each other. Who decides whether an object is a piece of art, craft industry, or trivial decoration?
Works
Ana Navas, Una fuente iluminada por luces de colores, 2022, Industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 120 × 147 cm
Ana Navas, Mozo con smoking, 2022, Industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 148 × 95 cm
Ana Navas, Group using triangle & Lines under a tangerine light, 2022, silkscreen on translucent textile and metal stand, each ca. 190 × 110 × 45 cm
Ana Navas, Bezaubernde Jeannie, 2021, Industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 105 × 108 cm
Ana Navas, Poularde auf Silbertablett, 2021, Industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 88 × 115 cm
Ana Navas, Tuto de pollo, 2021, Baby car seat, Silkscreen print of industrial textile pattern, 80 × 40 × 40 cm
![Ana Navas, Tropfenförmiges Lapislazuli, [middle], 2021, Swiffer WetJet, dressed in industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 62 × 32 × 14 cm](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ov30aai3/production/0009ec9bcc2cb7fdcbaad62bd9bbae8942afad7f-1890x2835.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format)
Ana Navas, Tropfenförmiges Lapislazuli, [middle], 2021, Swiffer WetJet, dressed in industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 62 × 32 × 14 cm
Ana Navas, Fashion Shop, 2022, plastic plate, bijouterie, cloth, acrylic, Ø 22 × 3 cm
Ana Navas, Naturkundemuseum, 2022, plastic plate, bijouterie, cloth, acrylic, Ø 20 × 5 cm
Ana Navas, Home appliances and mirrors, 2022, plastic plate, bijouterie, cloth, acrylic, Ø 21.5 × 3 cm
Ana Navas, El camino del taller al parque, 2022, plastic, cloth, acrylic, bijouterie, 18.5 × 33 × 8 cm
Ana Navas, Bleistiftbart (negativ), 2021, Industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, 70 × 18 cm
Ana Navas, Cabeza gruñendo, 2021, Industrial textiles and copies of the patterns painted by hand, silkscreen print, 115 × 66 cm
Ana Navas, Fishbowl, 2019, clothes rack, cloth, acrylic, 160 × 80 × 4 cm
Test copyright
Ana Navas, Buddas en Lanas, 2019, water colour, cloth, bijouterie, acrylic, cardboard, 115 × 35 × 40 cm
Ana Navas, My favorite female artists, 2019, plastic plate, imitation jewelry, cloth, acrylic, Ø 30 × 3 cm
Ana Navas, Selena y Eva, 2019, plastic plate, cloth, acrylic, bijouterie, 25 × 30 × 3 cm
Ana Navas, Lo que me acuerdo de la Mitad del Mundo, 2019, plastic plate, bijouterie, cloth and acrylic, Ø 25 × 3 cm
Ana Navas, Mosquitas de luz, 2019, textiles, bijouterie and styrofoam base, 17 × 29 × 12 cm
Ana Navas, Tara III, 2019, acrylic on canvas, on cotton, fake leather, 114 × 171 cm
Ana Navas, Excuses (Dennis & Henry), 2019, ironing board, cloth, acrylic, 85 × 120 × 35 cm
Ana Navas, Ear III, 2019, vacuum cleaner, cloth, acrylic, 88 × 40 × 35 cm
Ana Navas, Patilleras, 2018, carpet, cardboard, textile, leather, silver, 130 × 104 cm
Ana Navas, United, 2018, mat, plaster, textile, paper, metal, 193 × 65 cm
Ana Navas, Pyramid, 2018, fabric, hair, silk paint, bread, polyester resin, 145 × 155 cm
Ana Navas, Muy Agradecida, 2018, fabric used for seats in buses, 272 × 295 cm
Ana Navas, Iron, 2018, pvc, acrylic, metal, textile, ceramic, 195 × 65 cm
Ana Navas, Noodles (Rotelle), 2017, acrylic on denim, 187 × 178 cm
Ana Navas, Noodles (Conchiglie), 2017, acrylic on denim, 262 × 178 cm
Anna Navas, Sol Lewitt Letter, 2016, permanent marker on fake leather, 293 × 140 cm
Ana Navas, Object for backdrop, 2014, styrofoam and paper maché, 90 × 150 × 60 cm
Ana Navas, Etui, 2014, bronze sculpture, fake leather, fabric, 150 × 19 cm (sculpture), 150 × 220 cm (textile)
Ana Navas, Etui, 2014, bronze sculpture, fake leather, fabric, 150 × 19 cm (sculpture), 150 × 220 cm (textile)
Ana Navas, Etui, 2014, bronze sculpture, fake leather, fabric, 150 × 19 cm (sculpture), 150 × 220 cm (textile)
Ana Navas, Yet far more often than these text based pieces, one would play pure melodies on the mouth organ (version II), 2013, series of 10 objects, napkins, variable dimensions
Exhibitions
dear awkwardness,, PARK, Tilburg, NL 2024
When Things Are Beings, Stedelijk, Amsterdam 2023
When Things Are Beings, Stedelijk, Amsterdam 2023
When Things Are Beings, Stedelijk, Amsterdam 2023
She spins the thread, she measures the thread, she cuts the thread, Nest 2021
She spins the thread, she measures the thread, she cuts the thread, Nest 2021
She spins the thread, she measures the thread, she cuts the thread, Nest 2021
Sumas y restas (with Kiko Pérez), Instituto Cultural de León, León, MX 2020
Test copyright
Sumas y restas (with Kiko Pérez), Instituto Cultural de León, León, MX 2020
Test copyright
El barro, la culebra y sus principios, CRISIS, Lima, PER 2019
El barro, la culebra y sus principios, CRISIS, Lima, PER 2019
Come Closer, Kasteel Oud Rekeem, NL 2019
Come Closer, Kasteel Oud Rekeem, NL 2019
To cut one’s hair by the moon, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden, DE 2018
To cut one’s hair by the moon, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden, DE 2018
I had to think of you, Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen, Sindelfingen, DE 2017
I had to think of you, Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen, Sindelfingen, DE 2017
I had to think of you, Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen, Sindelfingen, DE 2017
I had to think of you, Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen, Sindelfingen, DE 2017
Placing a mirror at the entry area is a gracious way to welcome wealth in, P/////AKT, Platform for contemporary Art, Amsterdam, NL 2016
Placing a mirror at the entry area is a gracious way to welcome wealth in, P/////AKT, Platform for contemporary Art, Amsterdam, NL 2016
Placing a mirror at the entry area is a gracious way to welcome wealth in, P/////AKT, Platform for contemporary Art, Amsterdam, NL 2016
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- A Veil as a Glaze, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, NL
- dear awkwardness, PARK, Tilburg, NL
2024
- Zigzag & other Ws, Sperling, Munich
2022
- Sumas y restas (with Kiko Pérez), Instituto Cultural de León, MX
2019
- To cut one’s hair by the moon, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden 45cbm, DE
2018
- I had to think of you, Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen, DE
2017
Selected Group Exhibitions
- When Things Are Beings, Stedelijk, Amsterdam, NL
2023
- She spins the thread, she measures the thread, she cuts the thread; Mila Lanfermeijer, Ana Navas, Evelyn Taocheng Wang
2021
- Sans Filet, Aoyama Meguro, Tokio, JP
- III – She spins the thread, she measures the thread, she cuts the thread, with Mila Lanfermeijer, Ana Navas, Evelyn Taocheng Wang, Nest, The Hague, NL
2020
- Breve, Abra Caracas, VE
2017
- Rompeflasche, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, Quito, EC
2016
- Eau de Cologne, Kunstverein Amsterdam, NL
2014
- Remise en Jeu, La Kunsthalle Mulhouse, FR
2012
Publications
- Ana Navas & Kiko Pérez: Sumas y Restas, publication in the frame of the residency at Charco – Granero (texts by Manuela Moscoso & Leonardo Ramírez), 2020
- Ana Navas: I had to think of you / Ich musste an dich denken, 2017, Bom Dia Books ↗
- Ana Navas: A fake crocodile can make you cry real tears, 2016 ↗
Press
Ana Navas, Artist in residency at Escuela Flora Ars Natura, Bogotá (with the support of Mondriaan Fonds Stichting)