Like the Argentinian writer Samanta Schweblin, the first time I found myself in front of a painting by the Spanish-Mexican artist Remedios Varo (1908-1963), I was stunned. Who was this elegant owl-figure with dainty fingers and feet? What was animating the creaturely machine at her side with tentacle-like brushes as hands? And, would I ever be able to look away?

Feeling mesmerized and awe-struck by Varo’s Surrealist visions isn’t an uncommon position to find oneself in. A new release from Louisiana Channel interviews three artists and two writers—Schweblin being one—about Varo’s influence, particularly her precise approach to alchemy and visualizing the thin veil between the physical and spiritual world. Interspersing artworks and commentary creates an insightful tapestry of a singular artist and her enduring legacy.

Watch “Remedios Varo: The Painter of Magic” below, and learn more about the artist previously on Colossal. Each brushstroke, each dreamlike scene, invites us to ponder the mysteries of the mind and the unexplainable.

As someone who appreciates the intricacies of human creativity, I find Varo’s work a reminder that sometimes, the most profound truths are best left to the imagination.