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ALKE REEH
Beauty of Color, (58 hours embroidery time) , 2017
Indian polytene bag
35 x 48 cm
AR - 01
Beauty of Color (60 hours embroidery time) , 2017
Sahel polythenbag
35 x 48 cm
AR -02
Beauty of Color (60 hours embroidery time) , 2017
Swiss polythenbag
35 x 48 cm
AR - 03
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Beauty of Color (60 hours embroidery time) , 2017
Coptic egypt polythenbag
35 x 48 cm
AR- 04
The work is to be framed
Biography
Alke Reeh studied metal design at Fachhochschule Hildesheim (1981 - 84), and from 1984 – 90 studied fine arts at the Dusseldorf Art Academy. She has had several solo exhibitions including the Stadt Backnang, 2019; Marta Museum Herford Germany, 2018; Gyan Museum, Jaipur and Lakeeren Gallery India in 2016. Reeh was also part of the Yinchuan Biennale in China, Islamic Art Festival, Sharjah Art Museum, 2017 and received a working grant from the Internationales Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, 2021; Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo Casa Baldi 2020 – 21; Foundation Kunstfond, 2018; Misk Art Foundation, Riad, Saudi Arabien in 2017 to name a few. Reeh has shown widely all over the world, including in 2013 -12 Reflection Max Mueller Gallery Goethe Institute Mumbai, India and at Museum Siegburg (with Shruti) 2013, Déjà vu, Staatliche Museen Dresden, 2012 Ornamental Structures Stadtgalerie Saarbrücken 2011, Mains and other works Field Institute Hombroich Museum Island (with Shruti Mahajan), 2010, Kaleidoscope Künstlerhaus Göttingen, 2009, and Kunstverein Hannover Langenhagen, 1989 amongst others.
About The Work
Like weaving, embroidery is a technique that has been practiced worldwide for thousands of years. Embroidery has no practical purpose, it arises solely from the need to beautify things visually, or from an aesthetic perspective. The plastic bag is also available everywhere, its appearance and shape are the same all over the world. This work combines them both corresponding to a reversal of time. The processing time, i.e., the production time of a bag is not comparable to the immensely high production time of a piece of embroidery. These are the most contradictory processes imaginable in the economy. Two poles are combined: a product perfected in its production process and an archaic production method. Plastic bags are embroidered with traditional patterns, thus integrating the history of the place. The view of the bag changes; it will at some point, be treated as a valuable object.