PLAKT:
Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei
Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei’s Inhale Me is a detail from a new series of works developed during her residency at the School of Gaasbeek and recently exhibited at CC Strombeek.
The series consists of larger and smaller works, rhythmically connected through a repetition of patterns, circles, and broken lines. The construction of the works seems painterly: precise, almost industrial pencil lines alternate with an organic interplay of graphic shapes, stains, and smudges. In addition, fragments of white lace, collages, and words add a narrative layer. Sheikh Rezaei explicitly questions the power and meaning of words, symbols, and contemporary power structures. The words are forceful, almost commanding, yet simultaneously demand submission. Phrases like ‘use me’ or ‘fear me’ could just as easily come from the mouths of lovers as from recent newspaper headlines. Are they commands, memories, desires, clichés, or facts?
For PLAKT, we chose to highlight a detail from one of the bigger works. The fragile pencil lines remain just visible, but our attention is drawn by the graphic elements: a geometric shape and the words ‘inhale me’. The shape, composed of circles and lines, resembles a pipe or a medical inhaler. By taking these elements out of context and relocating them to the public space, an intimate message suddenly becomes highly political. While the original works reflect on power structures and the relationship between submission and authority on an interpersonal level, here our relationship with the city comes into focus. Is this a love letter to the city or a statement of ecological activism? Sheikh Rezaei leaves that question unanswered—and it is precisely in that openness that the strength of her work.
PLAKT invites artists to create works printed as blueback posters, which are pasted across the city. This is done by professionals who typically distribute event advertisements, giving them control over when and where the artworks appear. Embracing spontaneity and unpredictability, the posters pop up in unexpected spots, disappearing just as quickly—reflecting the uncontrollable, fleeting nature of city life. PLAKT is about creating unexpected encounters—brief moments of joy, curiosity, or reflection. Whether it’s a quick pause during a busy day or a smile on a familiar street corner, these artworks aim to connect art with the everyday, reminding us to live in the moment and embrace the unexpected nature of life.
We are spreading over 300 copies of each artwork across the public spaces of Brussels and Flanders. Exactly when and where? We don’t know—that’s part of the beauty.
Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei €265
Inhale Me
We saved 15 pristine copies of this print to present as a limited edition – signed and numbered by the artist.