Protective Animals

Born in Arica, Chile, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Atacama Desert, Cristbal Schmal creates paintings and drawings rooted in narrative and symbolism. His works explore the space between the personal and the universal, weaving together elements of myth, humour and melancholy. Now based near Frankfurt after more than a decade in Berlin, Cristbal continues to move fluidly between illustration, teaching and painting, guided by what he describes as a process of trust and self-discovery.