UNTITLED (TOOLS FOR HANDHOLDING) | melanieteresabohrer

UNTITLED (UNITED STATES OF US)

2017

white duvet cover and cotton threads

UNTITLED (UNITED STATES OF US)

IS A TORN DUVET COVER, WHICH I RECONSTRUCTED INTO AN AMERICAN FLAG. EMPLOYING A MEDICAL SUTURE STITCH -USED TO SEAL LACERATIONS- I COMBINE THE INTIMATE, BODILY FABRIC OF A WHITE BLANKET WITH A RANGE OF BROWN, COTTON THREADS, TO RECREATE THE UBIQUITOUSLY KNOWN STARS AND STRIPES. THROUGH MATERIALS AND MAKING, I ALLUDE TO INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AS A PAINFUL WOUND IN THE AMERICAN NATIONAL IDENTITY. THE PERFORMATIVE ACTION, INSTRUCTING TWO PEOPLE TO FOLD THE FLAG TOGETHER, PHYSICALLY ENGAGES THE VIEWER, THEREBY MAKING THEM COMPLICIT IN UPHOLDING CERTAIN STRUCTURES, WHILST PROMOTING CONNECTIVITY, CONVERSATION, AND HOPEFULLY HEALING.

UNTITLED (IT’S NOT UGLY, IT'S LIFE OR DEATH)

IS A SERIES OF NINE PILLOW CASES, SEWN FROM THE REMAINING, WHITE DUVET COVER FABRIC. EMBROIDERED WITH THE SAME COTTON SUTURE, ARE QUOTES COLLECTED FROM CERTAIN EUROPEANS VOICING THEIR OPINION ABOUT TRUMP. THEIR OVERSIMPLIFIED STATEMENTS ABOUT U.S. POLITICS ARE DEEPLY JARRING. THE QUOTED INDIVIDUALS UNWILLINGLY SOUND SIMILAR TO TRUMP SUPPORTERS; NORMALIZING AND MINIMIZING THE ACTUAL HARM FUELED BY THE PRESIDENT. BY SUBVERTING THE COMFORT AND SECURITY OF PILLOWS WITH HURTFUL, INFLAMMATORY PROCLAMATIONS, I INVITE VIEWERS TO PONDER HOW EASILY WE CONSTRUCT OPPOSITION, AND FALL INTO “US” VS “THEM” NARRATIVES.

UNTITLED (TOOLS FOR HAND HOLDING)

2016

felt and thread

TOOLS FOR BOOKS AND HANDS

WINNER OF ARTPOP PEORIA 2017:

Billboard Contest

After teaching art therapy courses at a Children's Hospital in the in-patient unit and a Community Center for people with sensory issues and disabilities, I was interested in creating comforting and visually appealing yet nondescript tools for common hand interactions without skin-to-skin contact.