HUMANITAS
1995, Brussels. Sketch of concept, lace heart, computer strips, step ladder, drawings, LP, record player, small table. Unrealised as an exhibition.
LOVE - DAYDREAMS - THE STAIRCASE OF HUMANITAS - THE ORDER OF THINGS
A lace heart is installed in the gallery vitrine, facing the street. It was made by Jadran's mother and gifted to the family after their daughter's birth. When entering the space, a vinyl record from Åsa’s childhood in Venezuela can be heard from a distance, creating a romantic atmosphere rooted in family memories. The exhibition expands into social and intellectual systems, with computer strips from the Copenhagen University Library, retrieved using the search term humanities, hanging from ceiling to floor, forming a dense field of knowledge on social sciences, communication, finance, feminism and more. Visitors can climb a stepladder to read titles and summaries of books or articles at different heights, moving through layers of information. And finally there are seven ink drawings, inspired by lace patterns using technical drawing methods from the artists' earlier studies in engineering and goldsmithing. These drawings are a series of labyrinths representing different areas of civil life, including law, business, ceremonies, and medicine. Two resemble seraphims, angel-like beings, of which one appears to be ill.
Listen below to Lottte Beckwé talking with Åsa Lie about HUMANITAS, Brussels, 2 January 2025
LOVE
White lace heart on red felt. (Made by Zofija Sturm, Jadran Sturm's mother). Hung in window towards the street.
THE STAIRCASE OF HUMANITAS
Old computer strips (from the University Library in Copenhagen) with summaries on humanities from different databases and a step-ladder. The above strip is one of 559 summaries printed on a long continous piece of paper. These strips will hang on the wall from the ceiling to the floor, fastened at the top and hanging loose. Visitors can climb up the step ladder to read database summaries near the ceiling.
DAYDREAMS
The pleasure of being touched. Dinner in Caracas by Aldemoro Romero. To be played on a record player as part of the installation. Romantic, Venezuelian, popular background music from the 1950’s. (From the record collection of Åsa Lie's parents)
THE ORDER OF THINGS
Labyrinths of civil life: Law, business, ceremonies, medicine. A series of 7 (A3) ink drawings hung in a row on a separate wall. Or drawn directly on the wall.
Lottte Beckwé talking with Åsa Lie about HUMANITAS, Brussels, 2 January 2025. Recorded by Mathieu Hendrickx. Edited by Lotte Beckwé.
HUMANITAS will be the base for an upcoming exhibition at AMVB opening 2nd of April 2026, curated by Lotte Beckwé, Merzedes Sturm-Lie and Åsa Lie.