Biography

Anna Kranich (Polui) was born to an architect’s family from Novosibirsk, Russia, in 1975. She first showed her artistic talent when child; paints, pencils, and paper were her favorite toys. Her earliest years passed in St Petersburg (then Leningrad) which’s spirituality, architectonics, and art have left the long-lasting impression to her soul.

Her first big solo exhibition took place in 1989. In 1991, she finished gymnasium and school of arts; in 1998, she graduated from the Architectural Academy of Novosibirsk as an Designer of the Architectural Environment. During her time at the Academy she has started with graphics professionally: in design, art, ‘paper architecture’; she experimented with performance, installation, object, and other art techniques.

After finding new home in Germany between 2001 and 2004, Anna received training at the Düsseldorf Academy of Arts in Architecture and Modern Art, as well as took part in master-classes for free graphics by Professor A.R. Penck to deepen her knowledge and sharpen skills of graphics on paper and in space. Anna has been developing her graphic methods and techniques: lithography, etching, linoleum engraving, wood engraving, drawing ink, felt pen etc.

After her term in the Düsseldorf Academy of Arts Anna has been occupied in free graphics, learning new from her colleagues, the nature, and the life itself.

Anna has participated in a number of different exhibitions (group and individual) in Russia and Germany. Her works are distinguished by inherent high graphic ingenuity and delicacy, deep philosophical view, unorthodox thinking, and psychological penetration into the subjects she touches upon.

In 2005, Anna Poluy accepted the pseudonym Kranich which, translated from German, means a little crane, the bird that has two homelands just like Anna herself. At the present time she lives and works in Düsseldorf.