Hommage an Meinem Mutter 1989

Hanne Darboven created this piece, "Hommage an Meinem Mutter," as a profound exploration of time, memory, and maternal connection. The grid, a dominant motif, speaks to the human impulse to organize and contain the boundless flow of experience. Think of the ancient Roman grid-like city plans—the cardo and decumanus—where order was imposed upon the landscape, or even the celestial maps used to chart the heavens. Here, Darboven uses the grid to frame and structure her homage, each cell containing notations, numbers, and images. These repetitions are not mere copies; each bears the mark of time and iteration, similar to rosary beads used to measure the passage of prayers. The act of repetition carries a potent, almost ritualistic quality, tapping into our collective subconscious. It is a form of incantation, a way to invoke and preserve memory. This deeply personal work becomes a universal exploration of remembrance, inviting us to reflect on how we measure and memorialize our own lives and loved ones through time.