Just like...
(my) mother
'Just Like...' is an immersive sculptural installation that deconstructs domestic life by reimagining everyday objects as symbols of both comfort and constraint. Rooted in personal experience yet expanding to universal themes, the artwork challenges traditional gender roles and the limitations of patriarchal systems. Serving as a compelling entry in the acclaimed 'Family Fountains' series, this work invites viewers to engage in a critical dialogue, encouraging a fresh perspective on the familiar spaces of home and the complex dynamics that shape our lives.
Reconfiguring Domestic Realities in a Patriarchal Frame
'Just Like...' confronts the intrinsic contradictions of domestic life by transforming ordinary household objects into potent symbols of comfort and constraint. Grounded in a personal narrative yet expanded to address universal themes of gender and power, the installation challenges viewers to reconsider the familiar. By recontextualising everyday furnishings within an immersive environment, the work invites a critical dialogue on the complexities of family and the enduring influence of patriarchal systems.
'Just like...' represents a direct confrontation with the darker facets of domestic life and the challenges of motherhood within a patriarchal framework. This work is the second installation in the self-initiated art project 'Family Fountains', which originated from an in-depth exploration of family systems, with a distinct emphasis on the psychological dimensions of these structures.
As is characteristic of the artist's practice, the work is rooted in personal experience that is subsequently elevated to a universal conceptual dialogue. This personal element serves merely as a catalyst, initiating a broader contemplation. Recurring motifs, such as the use of everyday furniture—including chairs, cabinets, and tables—play an essential role in her creative process. Notably, the installation features three specific kitchen stools that have appeared in two prior installations (dating from 2000 and 2014) and were also integral to the artist's household for 25 years as she raised her two children as a single parent. These stools now find their final expression in 'Just Like…'
Reflecting on the significance of furniture in her work, Reggie Voigtländer comments, "I want people to recognize these objects as the things they are, and at the same time I merge them together into a new visual context. They must speak from their functions related to human presence and activities, expressing a certain aspect or value attached to it and relevant within the presented constellation." The selected home decorations in this installation resonate with fundamental human desires—such as the need for light, warmth, and the creation of a comfortable, homely environment. Simultaneously, these objects evoke historical and cultural narratives that include a darker undercurrent, exemplified by metaphors such as a bird confined to a cage.
Photo: sculptural installation at exhibition 'bayhouse - Kaapwartier' during Rotterdam Artweek 2025. Video Instagram: click here
More about project 'Family Fountains': click here