Mother-daughter connection links art and fiction

Mother and daughter creatives, Juliana Skorcheva and Ana Cristina Giraldo, will take over the exhibition space at Charlie’s Gelato in Sharp Road for three weeks next month.

Juliana, who writes under the pen name JK Starling, will launch her debut novel, Ain’t No Wave Pool, a contemporary story set in Auckland and on the North Island’s west coast beaches.

With a sharp ear for voice and an affection for place, she explores the quiet pressures of modern life from a young person’s perspective – belonging, found family and the ways people try to remake themselves.

She says the story is grounded in the rhythm of the city but reflects the pull of the sea, and brings a distinctly Aotearoa perspective to contemporary fiction.

When not writing, Juliana can usually be found close to the water, listening, observing and gathering stories.

Her daughter, 22-year-old Ana Cristina Giraldo is a Colombian-Bulgarian artist, raised in Auckland and has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Her paintings explore how art transforms the spaces it inhabits and evokes shifting emotional states in those who encounter it.

Juliana says her daughter’s work invites reflection on colour, material, time and perception, creating a dialogue between illusion and physical presence that bridges inner and outer realms.

“She sees both making and viewing art as a meditative practice, a way to stay connected to creativity in a fast-paced world,” Juliana says.

Her work ranges from expansive to precise, mirroring how different feelings register in the body, and is influenced by music of all genres.

“She allows rhythm to guide her brush, shaping each piece into a visual compass that encourages viewers to connect with the parts of themselves that sit beneath the surface.

“Her paintings are meant not only to be seen but to be felt, offering a grounded, contemplative encounter that fosters clarity, emotional resonance, and a renewed awareness of one’s internal landscape.”

The exhibition opens on May 9 (Mother’s Day weekend) and will be at Charlie’s Gelato until the end of the month.