Gerhard Rühm
Schablone für Zeitungsleser

The Schablone für Zeitungsleser (Template for Newspaper Readers) is a supposedly simple and practical tool for producing literature. The black colored paper, from which the artist’s name is punched out in large letters, is adapted to the large format of newspapers and is easy to handle. By placing it on the newspaper page, the prosaic text about world events is individually translated into a poetic form by the reader. The object produces poetry in edition. At the same time, authorship is not forgotten, as the name of the artist is always present in the reading template, giving form and structure to the everyday poet. At the same time, Schablone für Zeitungsleser raises the critical question of predetermined reading patterns and the manipulation of readers insofar as they can only ever read what the template reveals.
Schablone für Zeitungsleser is produced in an edition of 200 copies, not signed and numbered, but with the edition details printed on the front.
Text: Birgit Eusterschulte