#aufgeputzt/spruced up, 2019
Symposion Bergschmiede Eisenerz
Artworks: #aufpoliert, #putzhadern, #chefinnenhocker, #gastschmiedinnenschürze
Installations at Bergschmiede Eisenerz

The series of works #aufgeputzt created during the ERZ I BERG I SCHMIEDE symposium includes several pieces that address gender issues in different ways.

The impetus for the works was given by the then long-time head of the Forge Studio, who suggested to the symposium organizer (herself a blacksmith) to clean the machines in the forge for the upcoming symposium. For this purpose, he gave her cleaning cloths, which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be his own overused underwear.

Cleaning is still internalized as women‘s work, and the head of the forge was probably unaware of the gender-political significance of his action. He certainly did not act intentionally, but the situation illustrates how deeply gender-specific stereotypes are rooted in people. Under this overarching role cliché, the works #aufpoliert/polished, #putzhadern/cleaningrags, #chefinnenhocker/femalechiefstool, and #gastschmiedinnenschürze/femaleguestforgeapron were created.

#aufpoliert/polished
In #aufpoliert, a polish disc on the forge‘s polishing block was replaced by a self made disc from my screen printing studio. Like the original from the forge, this one also consists of over 50 fabric discs that are pressed together and rotated to polish wood and metal. However, these cotton discs are discarded screen printing proofs that, having not become artworks, are used as cleaning rags in my studio.
Printed on the discs are various German words such as AUFPUTZ, PUTZFETZEN, AUFPOLIERT, HOCHGLANZ, PUTZIG, and HADERN, which also find ambiguous use in everyday language. Here, it’s not just about cleaning in the literal sense.

#putzhadern/cleaninrags
In the project #putzhadern, the lid of the rag chest in the forge, which has been there since the workshop was built, was cleaned from the dirt of the past decades. During this exhaustive and sweaty cleaning process, the inscription „Putzhadern neu“ appeared on the lid. The newly discovered lettering was then extended by the word „old,“ as all efforts to collect used cleaning rags for an installation failed for days.
Presumably, at the end of each day, they went up in smoke in the chimney. It was only through the deliberate labeling that it became possible to collect the used rags.

#chefinnenhocker
The #chefinnenhocker, a swivel stool used in the forge, was polished up by being covered with new red leather. The words printed in a circle on the seat can be read in different combinations, once again addressing the gender roles in the workshop:

CHEFIN SCHMIEDIN,
SCHMIEDIN CHEF,
CHEF SCHMIED,
SCHMIED CHEFIN.

#gastschmiedinnenschürze
The #gastschmiedinnenschürze is a forge apron made from the same red leather used for the #chefinnenhocker, printed with the words:

GAST SCHMIED *IN.

Once again, the male-dominated blacksmith’s workshop is spruced up by covering the worn-out original blacksmith’s apron hanging there with the #gastschmiedinnenschürze. This work is a tribute to the symposium‘s organizer, who has persevered to secure her place in the workshop despite its male over-representation.