Jennifer Anderson’s latest series, Engram, involves cutting intricate geometric patterns into discarded reproductions of paintings. My eye goes back and forth from trying to understand the old image of what has been cut away to perceiving the new negative image of the newly cut pattern.
The “original” image is shattered and a new image is generated across the delicate remainders of paper and color. The passage of light through the image allows shadows to become an integral part of the work and marries the work to the gallery wall as it moves away from the static. The labor-intensive process of hand cutting these images, not only grants the “original” reproduction with a new meaning visually and in form, but also a new sense of the artist hand.
A tension of meaning and materials as well as time exists in this work. The discarded is reincarnated. A new meaning and concept of beauty are superimposed on a previous one. The remainder functions individually and to remind us of the past as well, like a persistent memory and questions what is the original?
You can see much more artwork on Jennifer Anderson’s website.
Beautiful work. You are very talented.