January 2004
Anna-Marie Haalbloom
San Francisco, CA
annahaalboom@hotmail.com
I am interested in the repetition of mundane motifs and how these patterns take part in the formation of memories of time and place. My paintings act as documentation of designs with which I have come in contact with throughout my life and daily experiences. Through constant interaction with decorative images, these motifs become personal and specific to my visual memory. By interacting with these universal designs, the viewer can make connections to their own specific experiences.
I am mesmerized by the constant flow of patterns that circulate within my mind on a daily basis, and how these form an impression of a place. My work addresses the issue of mechanical repetition and how the reoccurrence of visual images has become a key part of human experience. For example, the day-to-day interaction with bedroom wallpaper, subway station decor, or car upholstery subconsciously creates a mapping of time and context for daily rituals.
In my paintings I arrange patterns according to an organized chaos. This references how I perceive and remember them over a short or long-term period of time. Through constant layering, elements are pushed further back into space and signal a metaphorical distance. The tactile and seductive surface of the work references how I am enticed both consciously and subconsciously on a daily basis by commercial patterning.
