Mirko Reinecke

The earliest etchings by Mirko Reinecke, those from a dozen years ago, already clearly show that there is a great connection with his photography. Not only does he use the photos as a reason, but he gives the photos a different meaning through the technical possibilities. As a starting point, there is often a domestic scene. Friends at a party, pictures of the academy students. But also intimate photos of his girlfriend and grandmother on her deathbed. In the 2008 Family bilder, it seems to be about the peace and idyll of family life. An old woman on her deathbed, as a connection between the time of the earliest recordings and then next to the intimate images of today. Heavy, dark tones ensure that the part of the image that is of real importance receives that attention. The almost monumental prints get an almost Wagnerian charge because of this darkness, with the nudes and the children's faces providing a revival.  Because of the size of the prints and the ensuing composition problems, the content suddenly becomes of the utmost importance and the question arises as to what happened to the children, what became of them. The dying grandmother is already an indication. The children are still looking into a carefree future; the young woman peeks carefully through her fingers. Mirko Reinecke depicts the question how to proceed with everything we already know, how you and your loved ones go through time and memories. The sense of drama, the use of blacks, the graphic idea is expressed here in a special way. Something about color is made clear here: black is color enough. Hans Könings, Berlin