: ANNA PINKAS

-a Connecting Project-

This project is dedicated to forging a community rooted in our individual stories and the unique gifts we hold in our hands. We are beginning this journey with six individuals, with the hope that these connections will grow to form a truly creative and genuine community: H+

STORY OF

ANNA PINKAS

Story by Hanna Yoo

Cinematography by Marlo Irani

Photography by Tessa Belle Dillman

AD - Aneli Garrido

PA - Asia Smudde Tom, Ella Belle Warner

Thinking of ANNA

Meeting Anna and her children came to me like a gift.
Last winter, I held a small solo exhibition. Because the night hours in my studio have always been such a uniquely inspiring space for me, I wanted to create an opportunity to share that experience with others. That is how I came to prepare the exhibition, 'Night in the Room.'
For it, I built a small house—a space like a cozy blanket fort or a secret attic, the kind of place I always wanted to crawl into and stay in as a child. My hope was that whoever entered would create joyful memories there, or perhaps be able to reconnect with their "childhood self." As they always do, the children stepped right into that space so naturally, without a hint of hesitation, completely fearless in building their own world inside it.
The guests who brought that very experience to life for me were Anna's children, Felix and Mina.

That is how my connection with Anna blossomed, and I learned that much of her own inspiration is deeply tied to her children. During our first meeting, which turned into a conversation lasting over two hours, we found a shared thread between us. Now, we are working on plans to bring that story to life together through a collaboration.

The entire shoot felt so incredibly warm. I am so deeply thankful for the children's endless laughter, as well as Anna's passion and thoughtful care.

—Hanna Yoo

Cinematography by Marlo Irani

Conversation with ANNA:

Question.

Please tell us about yourself_Who you are, What you do, and What currently inspires or drives you.

ANNA: My name is Anna. I’m a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. I grew up in Switzerland, and I think that Swiss graphic design and the general orderliness of the place definitely impacted my personality and the way I approach projects. But I’ve lived in New York City for 20 years now, and its energy and diversity are essential to my process. My two kids (Felix who is 9, and Mina who is 5) have also really changed my way of working. I’m inspired by how easily they create — without overthinking — and I also found new formats and materials through the constraints of parenthood: things I can make easily on the go. It’s also important to me that they culminate in physical rather than screen-based objects that can be touched, read, and even played with.

Question.

What is your message from what you creat, and Where is your passion in it?

ANNA: I dabble in a lot of different media — I think of the concept of the project first and choose whatever tool feels most appropriate for it. One commonality: I studied (and teach) traditional animation, so I think the sequential and laborious aspect of hand-drawn animation is always there. I love books and make a lot of them. I enjoy exploring different formats and bindings. Sometimes the illustrations and text are mine, but I also love generating content through community workshops. Embroidery has become one of my favorite media. I’ve always drawn, and to me embroidery is an extension of my drawing practice.

I love how portable it is: I always have an embroidery project on hand — whether I’m taking my kids to an afterschool activity, attending a boring Zoom meeting, or traveling. The concept and design for my embroidery projects come first and tend to involve a lot of thinking and planning, but the embroidery process itself is very meditative. It’s really nice to alternate between the cerebral and the manual labor.

Question.

How would you describe your connection with Hanna?

ANNA: I was in a local store with my mom — who has impeccable taste in everything: from jewelry to clothes and children’s books. Her eyes went straight to a display of Hanna’s jewelry, and we both fell in love with her work instantly. I found Hanna’s website and, on a whim, emailed her to ask if my mom and I could visit her studio. What was supposed to be a quick visit to purchase a ring turned into atwo-hour-long conversation about our different backgrounds, inspirations, and cultures. We’ve kept these conversations going ever since and are working on a few ideas for collaborative projects. When I wear her pieces, it reminds me of all the ideas we’ve exchanged and inspires more of them.

Question.

What do you carry in your hand now?

ANNA: I always say that my hands look like I’m 90 years old — they are wrinkled and cracked, especially in winter. I guess it’s a testament to how much I use them as an artist, so it’s ok. And I still love putting lots of rings on because each one holds so much meaning and memories. I can’t help it: I love “things” —making them, sharing them, and owning them