Konstruktionen 1968

These framed works are "Konstruktionen," or "Constructions," by Hanne Darboven, who began to make these in the late 1960s. Darboven, a conceptual artist from Germany, is known for her systematic and repetitive methods of notation. Her work presents a fascinating intersection of history, memory, and mathematics. Born during World War II, Darboven's work can be seen as a response to the trauma and the need for order in post-war Germany. Her practice involves transforming numerical sequences into visual patterns. In these works, she uses a grid format overlaid with handwritten numbers and dates, turning personal and historical data into a complex visual system. Darboven once said her works are "constructions, not compositions." This reflects her methodical, almost bureaucratic approach to art-making, but her work also conveys a deep sense of time and personal history. Ultimately, Darboven’s "Konstruktionen" invites reflection on how we perceive and record time, and on the intricate ways personal and collective histories intertwine.