Annette Kelm Straws and Stripes, 2018
Straws and Stripes depicts three wheat stalks leaning against a white-and-blue striped textile background with slight creases creating darker folds. The work’s title is a play on the English name Stars and Stripes, a paraphrase referring to the flag of the United States of America. At the same time, there is no apparent relationship and the suggestion of a connection is based on the forms — literally stripes and stalks from a plant — is not stated in any other obvious way. It is precisely this playful aspect that recurs in Annette Kelm's practice, the deliberate openness to interpretation of her combinations of objects and their potential significance, either by themselves or in the context of the composition. With a touch of humor, she lets the viewers ponder.