Reconstructing memories

Working with the broad concept of memories, Lobke Roenhorst uses her personal archive that includes photos, videos and notes from her family and youth to search for a balance between the personal and the universal. Investigating family histories and their memories, in some parts vague, like memories tend to be, the images from Roenhorsts’ archive come to life in soft, blue cyanotypes. The different pieces, stitched together, form a patchwork of pictures. The inspiration from working with patchworks and quilts came from the realization that textile is the first material you come into contact with when you’re born. Quilts are traditionally made to mark important life events and are part of the long history of women’s crafts. The cyanotype patchworks are symbols for the blueprints in Roenhorsts’ life.

Roenhorsts’ installations materializes her archive and memories. Dried acacia branches found by her grandfather. A fishbone pattern laid in bricks brings her father’s professions as a road worker into the installation. A video of Roenhorsts’ sister and Roenhorst herself creating an everlasting embrace. Together, the installation represents a family dynamic. Reconstructing the family memories, or re-re-reconstructing as Roenhorst would say, gives you a feel of the comfort and softness they entail.

Artist statement

Working with the broad concept of memories, Lobke Roenhorst uses her personal archive that includes photos, videos and notes from her family and youth to search for a balance between the personal and the universal. In some parts vague, like memories tend to be, the images from Roenhorsts’ archive come to life in soft, blue cyanotypes. The different pieces, stitched together, form a patchwork of pictures. Part of the long history of women’s crafts, patchworks or quilts like these are traditionally made to mark important life events. In Roenhorsts’ work, her cyanotype patchworks form symbols for the blueprints in her life.

The installation materializes her archive and memories; dried acacia branches found by her grandfather, a fishbone pattern laid in bricks as a reminder of her father’s profession as a road worker, a video of Roenhorst and her sister in an everlasting embrace. Together, the installation represents a family dynamic. Reconstructing the family memories, or re-re-reconstructing as Roenhorst would say, it gives you a feel of the comfort and softness they entail.