Annamaria Leiste, 2020, Germany

Herzbehüter (Heart Shelter)

The installation “Guardians of the Heart” highlights the vulnerability of the heart and shows that it takes tenderness and del+D16icacy to create true heart connections. A series of pins made of mixed fibre papers – linen, tree bark, dandelion stems, mistletoe fibre. Each hat is attached to a thumb-sized oval pin made from a solid piece of silver. These pins create a clear defensive space around the wearer’s heart. Their size makes them a source of wonder and curiosity. Like a bandage on a wound, they evoke empathy. They remind us of a time long gone when a gentleman would take off his hat, hold it close to his heart and nod to the person standing in front of him.