Anna-Marie Gallares

email: Annamariegallares01@gmail.com instagram: _bannanieart_

One of the significant turning points in my life was when I moved from the Philippines to England. I didn’t get to choose to move, as it was my parents ‘choice, so my sister and I could live better lives and be given more opportunities.

From my seven-year-old self ‘s point of view, my first year in England was filled with positive emotions of curiosity, wonder and excitement. However, it also had a fair share of negative memories, such as struggling to fit in, not understanding or speaking English and unfamiliarity with everyday life.

I have explored different formats of journey and storytelling. One artist who stood out to me is Grayson Perry, specifically the chaotic nature of his tapestry collection, The Vanity of Small Differences. I find it fascinating how the colours, shapes, and patterns can be elements that shape a story format.

I am interested in co-creation and collaboration with artists and communities. I create art stemming from my experience or the experience of others to inform issues that have been silenced or have never been told in a format that a broad audience may understand and relate to.

As A Year In My Life is a year of my story, I choose to tell it through a painted tapestry. Filled with traditional Filipino indigenous tattoos, patterns, and elements from my primary childhood photographs.