ST. LOUIS — The “Symbiosis” art exhibit is on display at the Angad Arts Hotel, which was created by two artists across different continents.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Louis artist Jasmine Raskas and Daniela Marin, an international artist from Peru, hugged each other when they met for the first time in person earlier this month after spending time virtually collaborating on their exhibit

  • Their artistic styles incorporate landscapes and imaginary realms that mimic parts of nature and textures found on Earth

  • Each piece featured in the exhibit connects or talks to each other either by color or form, Marin said, which tells a story of organic shapes and biomorphic forms that become entities and ecosystems each with its own synergy

  • Raskas explained that she hopes people find an appreciation for nature and connection to one another after viewing the exhibit

St. Louis artist Jasmine Raskas and Daniela Marin, an international artist from Peru, hugged each other when they met for the first time in person earlier this month after spending time virtually collaborating on their exhibit.

They first met online thanks to a mutual friend who noticed similarities in their artwork.

“He saw the familiarity and thought ‘Oh, you two need to know each other,’ and then we saw each other’s work and immediately felt like we already did know each other,” Raskas said.

The two artists had an instant connection and began working on their art exhibit in May. Raskas and Marin would send each other images and ideas about their work.

“We built a relationship through Zoom and text and WhatsApp,” Marin said. “It wasn’t a challenge to be working abroad because I’m in Peru and Jasmine is in St. Louis. We managed to work it out, and it’s a lovely show.”    

Their artistic styles incorporate landscapes and imaginary realms that mimic parts of nature and textures found on Earth.  

“We’re working with these organic symbols that repeat throughout nature, so it’s kind of like we both have these libraries of symbols and we’ve been referencing one another’s work,” Raskas said.

Each piece featured in the exhibit connects or talks to each other either by color or form, Marin said, which tells a story of organic shapes and biomorphic forms that become entities and ecosystems each with its own synergy.

 

 

The term “Symbiosis” is defined as “a relationship between people or organizations that depend on each other equally” and “a close connection between different types of organisms in which they live together and benefit from each other,” according to Cambridge Dictionary.

“It reflects the work itself, like ecological environments, but also our process for creating the show together,” Raskas said.

Marin added that, “The show is not just about us. It’s how we worked together, what we bring to the community and the relationships that we have as human beings.”  

Raskas explained that she hopes people find an appreciation for nature and connection to one another after viewing the exhibit.

“I hope that people take away a reconnection to the natural world,” Raskas said. “I think that we both use a lot of inspiration from nature and that also brings in ideas of the universal human experience and how we are more similar than we are different.”

Marin hopes people get a sense of adventure after seeing the exhibit as her work focuses on landscapes with inspirations from deserts and other places she has been.

“It’s like a metaphor that perhaps we can grow in different places and it’s about getting out there and the challenges you can find,” she said.

This experience is a pathway for more opportunities and collaborative experiences in the future, Marin said.

“Symbiosis” is on display through Dec. 1.