Franz Ackermann: Strap

This carrying strap is not really a thing, more of a friend. Originally it was just a practical object given to me at the airport by my carpenter, when I decided at the last minute to take a painting on the plane with me. The strap appeared randomly – clearly a disposable product, to be used once as a stopgap and discarded without further thought. But it stuck with me. It kept reappearing, like a loyal dog. Now it has become a constant companion on my travels – a friend who is treated badly, who gets ignored, who must constantly expect to be forgotten. Once it gets me through customs, it recedes into the background. But it’s always there when I need it. Dependable, discreet and undemanding.
Translated by Nicholas Grindell