The RingelReih Collective’s approach to art is deeply rooted in archival research and the creative reinterpretation of found materials. Since 2008, I have been collecting diverse materials for my archive, which I began sorting and categorizing in 2015. Over the years, I have developed a unique process, resulting in one of the largest privately sorted collections. Each artwork is derived from this archive, selecting specific subjects that uncover deeper meanings, with a focus on recurring themes and visual similarities across images. A key element of our practice is the integration of hand-drawn components. When an image sparks inspiration, we create a related drawing, mounted on A3 paper, and arrange it on canvas. These industrial drawings, shaped by our engineering backgrounds, reveal the technical aspects of objects within the images, such as their inner workings.

The RingelReih Collective operates through a collaborative process while also embracing individual creative contributions. This ensures that everyone’s ideas and projects evolve within an open and dynamic environment. This inclusivity allows us to create art that resonates universally, while still maintaining a strong sense of shared vision and purpose. Our goal is to merge the worlds of art and archive, advancing artistic exploration and offering new perspectives on contemporary issues through intellectual engagement and creative experimentation. A key example of this approach is our recent project, AAAH. This project serves as a contemporary exploration of photography’s power and universality, grounded in our extensive archive accumulated since 2008. By transforming found images from various media—magazines, newspapers, books, and more—AAAH constructs a cohesive narrative that redefines the relationship between art, archival research, and photography. The project focuses on the open mouth as a universal gesture, delving into raw emotions of vulnerability, power, and human connection across diverse cultural contexts. Each image serves as a fragment in a larger mosaic, carefully curated to spark new understandings of the visual narratives we encounter daily. The work reflects the ethos of the collective, blending rigorous research with imaginative interpretation, aiming to shift the viewer’s perception of everyday imagery. Ultimately, AAAH invites audiences to reconsider the role of photography—not just as a medium, but as an evolving cultural language that shapes our perceptions of the world around us. AAAH is part of a broader project that includes 216 found images spread across six separate panels. This project exemplifies the collective’s dedication to bridging archival research with contemporary reinterpretation. Through thoughtful curation and creative exploration, we aim to highlight photography as both an art form and a cultural document. Through this ongoing process, the RingelReih Collective continues to transform forgotten materials into compelling new narratives. We invite viewers to engage deeply with the past while considering the future of artistic practice. With each project, we strive to offer fresh perspectives, ensuring that our work remains at the forefront of innovative artistic and archival exploration. Farshido, Founder and Artistic Director