"Her very first project ("The Table of Power") is a key work in her oeuvre: in the 1990s she photographed the boardroom tables at the headquarters of what were at the time the forty largest multinational corporations in Europe. Two years ago, after the financial crisis, she took up the theme once again.
Basically, these pictures show nothing more than a deserted room, a large table, and chairs. However, if one connects these scenes with the names of the largest European companies, such as Shell, Allianz, Siemens, or ThyssenKrupp, then one will take a second, closer look. Because it is here in these conference rooms that the CEOs and CFOs, the global players and corporate leaders meet. And they make decisions that affect hundreds of thousands of employees. Here, the prices of gas and diesel are discussed; this is where it is decided which government bonds are worth buying and which are not. Therefore, these are not just rooms with tables and chairs; they are symbols of influence, of responsibility and control, wealth and property - in short, of power.
Hassink calls her two long-term studies "The Tables of Power" and "The Tables of Power 2". In a certain way, they are a double project, about which the artist says, “Every room has its own identity, every detail allows you to draw your own conclusions about how you perceive the company. That is fascinating.” (Hatje Cantz)