The work "Monuments of Grief" is an examination of objects contaminated by sad memories. The work is part of my PhD research project at Hasselt University and the PXL-MAD School of Arts in Hasselt, Belgium, funded by the Special Research Fund (BOF) of Hasselt University (BOF21DOC04).
The object consists of 99 handmade cardboard boxes. Each of the boxes contains a sheet of paper with an advertisement text and a ring imprint embossed in the paper.
The texts are based on sale ads for (used) engagement rings found on secondhand portals. None of the ad texts seen in the boxes existed exactly as shown. However, none of the sentences preserved in the texts is fictitious either. All texts are composed of fragments found in advertisements. There are 33 German, 33 English and 33 Dutch texts. (The 3 languages between which I currently live.)
The ring shapes embossed on the text sheets are inspired by rings also found in ads mentioned. However, the shapes have been simplified and partially enlarged.
The imprints themselves represent the traces and memories that resonate even after the sale of the object.
"Monuments of Grief" was first displayed publicly during the open day at Künstlerhaus Lukas, Ahrenshoop (DE) in July 2023.
