The works by Düsseldorf artist Alke Reeh are characterized by both a conceptual severity and a great sensuous power. Basic shapes, that were isolated from their habitual contexts and placed in new, surprising situations, form the center of her work. A vessel with a fine moulding unexpectedly appears to be the skirt of a delicate lady, the vault of a large Ottoman dome to be the bottom of a common cup.
A vessel with a fine moulding unexpectedly appears to be the skirt of a delicate lady, the vault of a large Ottoman dome to be the bottom of a common cup. This trick creates a déjà-vu effect with the viewer, containing the recognition of familiar things but also the irritation of expected viewing habits. The result is a pleasant renewal and focusing of the vision.
A total of eight rooms was provided by the museum in the central building of Pillnitz Bergpalais. Here in the main hall, an object consisting of reflecting panes that was exclusively created for the exhibition, establishes a dialogue with its surrounding.
