Michaela Meise
reclining, 2007

Artist
Michaela Meise

Title
recumbent

Year of creation
2007

Technique and dimensions
wood, stain, metal chain, 197 x 5.5 x 2.7 cm; 200x22.5x2.7cm; 100x4x2.7cm; 195x34.5x2.7cm; 250x46x2.7cm

Year of acquisition
2008

Acquisition of the foundation

There are certain motifs in art that run through its entire history. There are depictions of the “Thorn Puller” or the “Mother with Child”/“Madonna” in contemporary variations from all eras and styles.

The same is true with the “Reclining Woman”: The motif is known, for example, from famous works such as “Venus with a Mirror” by Diego Velázquez, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’ “Odalisque” or the abstract sculpture by Henry Moore entitled “The Reclining Woman " known. They are all based on a structure that is similar in essential points: the lying female nude.

Michaela Meise alludes to exactly this tradition with her work “Lying.” What at first glance seems to have nothing in common with the traditional works of art history, turns out to be a clear reference to these works on closer inspection. Michaela Meise's “Lying End[s]” are also based on a common concept: held in the air by a metal chain on one narrow side, the other narrow side of the black-stained boards rests on the floor.

Room installations like this are typical works of the artist. These are often sculptures that are made of blockboard or cardboard and structure the room. The “lying ones” also fall into this category: the five hanging boards that appear frozen give the room a structure and at the same time experiment with different variations of balance that create visual tension.