The poignant feel of a lost era with Absolut Artist, Anders Romare
Original photographs from the 1940s and 50s inform Anders Romare’s dreamy watercolor paintings that explore light against darkness. From family photos to the memories of strangers, the Swedish artist reimagines the emotions and the symbolism of time caught in a moment. Absolut Art sat down with Romare to discuss his artistic process, the inspiration for his work, and the town he calls home.
Absolut Art: How would you describe your work? Anders Romare: My paintings are made in watercolour and pencil on primed canvas and paper; within a limited colour scheme, and with motifs transiently figurative with abstract elements.
My works are based on original photos from the 1940s and 50s; sourced from family albums of anonymous people, and ordinary scenes, but with a tangible presence and a poignant feel of a lost era, such as wartime, or of bright pictures from sunny holidays by the sea. Light against darkness is a central theme in my paintings and I am inspired by the shades of light in vintage black-and-white photos.
Absolut Art: What influences or inspires your pieces? AR: Outsider Art, Kerry James Marshall, Jacob Lawrence and Silke Otto-Knapp.
Absolut Art: Why have you chosen to live and work in your city? AR: I have my family and life here, it has become my hometown after many years living here.
Absolut Art: Tell us a bit about the artwork(s) that will be featured on AbsolutArt.com. AR: In my art, I transform pictures of everyday scenes or desolate spaces to veritable dreamscapes, with transport the viewer to a deeply personal, enigmatic and symbolical universe.
Explore and shop Anders Romare enigmatic, abstract universe on AbsolutArt.com.