We are pleased to announce that three significant works by Azade Köker—Akkordarbeiterin (Female Pieceworker) (1987), Two Figures Wrapping Wool (1982/83), and Leben und Tod (1987)—have been acquired by the Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK), further recognizing her critical engagement with social themes.

Köker’s practice explores the role of women in patriarchal structures and capitalist economies, often highlighting the tension between labor, identity, and power. Akkordarbeiterin stands as a tribute to female factory workers, particularly migrant women from Turkey. The fragmented and layered forms of the figure’s upper body recall both ancient Mesopotamian sculptures and industrial machinery, reflecting the relentless, repetitive motions imposed by piecework labor. The artist sheds light on the physical and economic toll of this system, which prioritizes productivity over workers' well-being. Similarly, Two Figures Wrapping Wool (1982/83) explores themes of connection and constraint. Depicting two figures bound together by wire wrapped around their hands, the sculpture challenges viewers to reconsider human relationships within systems of control, solidarity, and resistance.

Having become part of the MMK collection, these works were on view in the exhibition There is no there there from April 13 to September 29, 2024.

Image: Azade Köker, Leben und Tod, 1987 
Photo by Frank Sperling. Exhibition view from There is no there there. 

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