Multiple Choice

In Multiple Choice, created for the exhibition Über Brücken – Bridging Cologne, I focus on the material history of the Südbrücke, intertwined with European industrialization and the Krupp family. The bridge is constructed from cast steel supplied by the KRUPP company. The work references a cast of Bertha Krupp's left hand, found in the Historical Krupp Archive at Villa Hügel in Essen. The original, made in 1870, once adorned the desk of Alfred Krupp, Germany's leading steel producer and Bertha’s husband. Due to chronic illnesses, Bertha spent much of their married life in various spa resorts, while Alfred, who had a compulsive urge to write, sent her pre-formulated letter templates to use in her replies.

Fill-the-gap exercises, similar to those in language courses where learners complete sentences with missing words, are a recurring format in my practice. Visitors to the exhibition encounter not only the bronze sculpture on the bridge but also a fill-the-gap letter displayed alongside it. This work reflects on how linguistic and grammatical structures shape our actions according to social expectations and norms in both private and public life.