Those Wandering 1990

Ayse Erkmen made this piece, called 'Those Wandering', from wood and steel, constructing a series of tables on wheels. Each table seems to be constructed from reclaimed materials, like repurposed floorboards, arranged in a herringbone pattern. The surfaces, though seemingly rigid, hint at a history of wear and tear. Notice the subtle variations in the wood's texture and color, evidence of time and use. The steel legs add a raw, industrial element, grounding the work with their weight. Each table leg is fitted with wheels, suggesting a sense of mobility and impermanence, inviting us to imagine these tables in motion, constantly shifting and adapting to their surroundings. The idea of repurposing and rearranging found materials reminds me of Kurt Schwitters' Merzbau, where everyday objects are transformed into something new and unexpected, like a collage in space. In the end, we are left to wonder about the past and future lives of these unlikely objects and how something beautiful can be created out of the most humdrum materials.