Totaliter Aliter has its origins in a medieval story about two monks who imagine paradise in the most beautiful colors. They promise each other that the one who dies first is going to appear to the other in a dream and speak only one word. Either “taliter” – it is as we imagined, or “aliter” – it’s different than we imagined. After the first monk dies, he appears before the other and speaks the words, “Totaliter aliter!” – It is totally different!
Ulrike Rehm (b. 1976) shows her world full of ancient myths in the exhibition “Totaliter Aliter. Such as an image of the Lamb or by referring in her use of materials to ancient techniques such as encaustic, a technique that dates back to 1000 BCE. Rehm works with various materials such as textiles, paper, ceramics, porcelain, soap and beeswax. With those various materials she creates her installations and sculptures. By working with a lot of details Rehm’s works look like sacred objects. Inspired by the selectiveness of memories, Rehm has selected for the exhibition works from her oeuvre that were made in different times and yet refer to each other. Rehm: ”I am fascinated by the idea that nothing is eternal and everything permanently changes form. Everything is “in der schwebe”-in and floating state.” Especially for this exhibition, Rehm designed a museum installation. By displaying her works around a dismantled carousel, Rehm invites you to enter her world.
Ulrike Rehm was born in Germany in Halle. In 2006, she graduated from the Rietveld Academy and received her BA in Fine Arts. In 2011, she graduated for her MA at the Sandberg Institute. Rehm’s greatest sources of inspiration are folkloric narratives, traditions, archetypal figures and their inherent symbolism and associations. Curiosity and experimentation drive Rehm’s artistic development and inform her versatile use of materials. Rehm can be found in various private, museum and corporate collections. Such as, Akzo Nobel Art Foundation (Amsterdam), Louis Vuitton (Asia) and Museum Arnhem.
