But those who encounter her for the first time here may come away believing that eva hesse. Nov, 2002 she threw herself into her work and was often seen in her studio up to her elbows in tubs of latex and fibreglass. I particularly appreciated the great number of images of her work as it developed over the years, many of which ive never seen, and which no longer exist. At 24, eva hesse was well informed on matters of recent art history, such as the abstract expressionist ethos of the new york school and its second generation response in the form of color field painting. Eva hesse january 11, 1936 may 29, 1970, was a jewish germanborn american sculptor, known for her pioneering work in materials such as latex, fiberglass, and plastics. In this book, briony fer argues that rather than being simply technical. I read it many years later, but she was really the. Eva hesse, studiowork at the fruitmarket gallery youtube. One of the first to work with synthetic materials like fiberglass, latex, and plastic, eva hesse is bestknown for her innovative sculptures, dubbed postminimalist for the time and style in which they were made. Her ambitious body of sculpture has given several generations of artists the permission to experiment. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Over the next year, this experiment evolved into a series of. Apr 26, 2016 the work led me to lucy lippards 1976 book, eva hesse. Her latex and fiberglass sculptures in particular have a resonance that transcends the boundaries of minimalist art in which she had her roots.
One of the most significant books on the artist, in fact, is already four decades old. Playing with simple materials in an inventive and even emotional way, eva hesse was not just one of the most influential artists of the 1960s, she was reinventing sculpture every step of the way. Eva hesse was one of the most innovative and beguiling artists of the twentieth century. Like other artists of the 1960s, sculptor eva hesse 19361970 pushed the conceptual and technical limits of art. Its no easy task to put a new spin on an artist whose work has been posthumously exhibited, theorized about, and revered for the past forty years, but this is what eva hesse. Risultati immagini per eva hesse no title 1966 eva hesse studio work, briony fer, published by the fruit market gallery works from in eva hesses studio left to right. Lucy was not only an art writer but had known eva quite well. American artist eva hesse 19361970 played a central role in the transformation of sculpture that took place in the 1960s. She is the kind of artist other artists swoon over, the kind they steal from, copy from, and learn from. Eva hesse s distinctive processbased art exerted a powerful influence on minimalist artists of the 1960s and continues to inspire artists today. Eva hesse then in her bowery studio, nyc this group henry groskinsky for life eva hesse in her kettwig studio, germany 1964 and 1965 sans ii a new documentary vividly captures the life of sculptor eva hesse, whose dripping, oozing forms were, according to art critic hilton kramer, unlike anything the eye had been accustomed to accept as. Studiowork, currently on view at the uc berkeley art museum, proposes to do, and does so with surprising success.
Eva hesses struggles with finding her voice resonates with me. Then one day she picked up a loose wire and used it in lieu of a painted line. Until her untimely death in 1970, hesse produced sculptures out of such experimental materials as string, paper, metal screen, resin, latex, and cheesecloth. The book contains a comprehensive catalogue of the studiowork, including many new works that have never before been seen in public. This modest show strikes the right balance between admiration for what. Argues that eva hesse s 19361970 studioworks force us to ask fundamental questions, not just about what an artwork is, but about the work that art does in our culture. Eva hesse in her studio eva hesse, hesse, artist at work. Alongside her largescale sculptures, the american artist eva hesse produced a great many small experimental works in a remarkably unusual range of materials, including latex, fibreglass, wiremesh, cheesecloth, masking tape and wax. Reacting to the rigidity and uniformity of minimalism, hesse s sculptural forms appear soft, slack, and uneven, conveying a human sensibility. Its no easy task to put a new spin on an artist whose work has been posthumously exhibited. Her death in 1970 at age 34 ended a brief career that lasted only ten years. The work of eva hesse 19361970, one of the greatest american artists of the 1960s, continues to inspire and to endure in large part because of its deeply emotional and evocative qualities.
Luanne mckinnon and barry rosen, director of the estate of eva. Thoughts on replication and the work of eva hesse tate. Buy and sell signed multiples and original paintings at fair prices on llery. Spectres and studiowork, an exhibition exploring the work of one of the twentieth centurys most critically celebrated and influential artists. The fruitmarket gallerys 2009 edinburgh art festival exhibition is a solo presentation of the work of germanborn american artist eva hesse.
Rather than considering them simply technical explorations, the art. Studiowork features works made from a diverse range of materials, such as plaster and latex, painted wood, metal, sculpmetal a vinyl and resin suspension of aluminum powder that could be applied over objects, fiberglass, rubber, plasterboard, cardboard, cotton, polyester resin, cheesecloth, wire, string, paper, and nets. Eva hesse is one of the most renowned american artists to come of age in the immediate aftermath of the abstract expressionists. Having fled her native germany during the rise of nazism, hesse was originally schooled in american abstract painting and commercial design practices. Argues that eva hesses 19361970 studioworks force us to ask fundamental questions. She was one of the artists who ushered in the postminimalism art movement in 60s. The book s publication coincides with a major exhibition organized jointly by the san francisco museum of art and the wiesbaden museum. Eva hesse 19361970 produced a significant number of small, experimental works alongside her largescale sculpture throughout her career. In the book s last sentence, editor barry rosen thanks hesses friend gioia timpanelli for discovering the diaries on a low shelf in eva hesses studio. The fruitmarket gallery has produced a major new publication to accompany eva hesse studiowork. Im willing really to walk on the edge, and if i havent achieved it, thats where i want to go. Eva hesse book chicago public library bibliocommons. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. All about eva she was beautiful, but hated her beauty.
This exhibition and accompanying book offers the first opportunity to appreciate the resonances between the studio practices of eva hesse and hannah wilke. Drawing at the drawing center, puts a fresh spotlight on ms. Eva hesse focuses on the body of criticism that has developed since the last major retrospective of hesses work, at the yale university art gallery in 1992. Acclaimed for her pioneering use of such materials as fiberglass, plastics and latex, eva hesse was a sculptor and painter, regarded as a central figure of the postminimal art movement of the 1960s. Learn about the artist and find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Senior curator at the aldrich, amy smithstewart was taken with lewitts work for this reason, drawing a parallel with the work of eva hesse, as they both share a kinship with minimalism. I had known about eva hesse s work for years, but the moment i really paid attention was when i visited an exhibition of what she called test pieces in edinburgh in 2009. In 2002, the san francisco museum of modern art opened eva hesse, a comprehensive exhibition of the artists works including sculpture, works on paper and paintings. I have the most openness about my art, hesse continued. By all arts considered one of the most important figures in postminimalism, eva hesse 19361970 ushered in a new wave of art and style while working in new york city in the late 1950s and 60s.
It is the result of new research by renowned hesse scholar professor briony fer and is curated by fer and barry rosen, director of the estate of eva hesse. Eva hesse untitled, 1960 left spectres, 1960 right female artist that reinvented sculpture. Studiowork features works made from a diverse range of materials, such as plaster and latex, painted wood, metal, sculpmetal a vinyl and resin suspension of aluminum powder that could be applied over objects, fiberglass, rubber, plasterboard, cardboard, cotton. Eva hesse is known for her inspirational threedimensional works. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Throughout her career, eva hesse 19361970 produced a significant number of small, experimental works alongside her largescale sculpture. Rather than considering them simply technical explorations, the art historian. Eva hesses distinctive processbased art exerted a powerful influence on minimalist artists of the 1960s and continues to inspire artists today. Jan 11, 2002 the work of eva hesse 19361970, one of the greatest american artists of the 1960s, continues to inspire and to endure in large part because of its deeply emotional and evocative qualities. Studiowork, a solo presentation of the work of germanborn american artist eva hesse, a major figure in postwar art, is on display at the ago for a limited time.
Eva hesse was born into a germanjewish family during the social and political turmoil brought about by the rise of the nazi regime in hamburg. In this piece, hesse hints at the common format of a studio based selfportrait by the painter standing at her easel, although one. Encountering eva hesse presents new writing on the work of eva hesse 193670 by international artists, curators, and art historians who examine the varied framings of exhibition, studio, and writing for their encounters with these still challenging works of art. Sep 29, 2016 eva hesses collected diaries begin at the end. Webs of fibre glass hang in loops from the ceiling, panels of thin brownish latex are suspended, like dried out skin, and balls of papier mache dangle in cord baskets like pendulous breasts. Just two days after hesse s death, sol lewitt created a new work, wall drawing 46, and dedicated it to his friend. I never got it, never understood it, but i like eva hesses work. Eva hesse in her home and studio at 4 bowery, new york, untitled, eva hesse eva was a german born american sculptor, kno. Nancy was talking about hanging out with hesse in her studio in 1966 and looking at this wall of work that was really absurd. The director of eva hesse on why the documentary is.
Documentary feature film focusing on the life and times of eva hesse, a groundbreaking artist who was active in new york and germany in the 1960s. Eva hesses studiowork edinburgh art festival exhibition ran from 5 august 25. Containing numerous samples of all kinds of hesses work, the book with its nine writings from individuals who knew hesse and her work well, including an interview with hesses onetime collaborator doug johns, is mainly an expansive reflection on her as a person and artist. These socalled testpieces were made in a wide range of materials, including latex, wiremesh, sculpmetal, wax, and cheesecloth. In studiowork, 1968 see second image in slideshow at left, a cluster of slender. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Using industrial materials such as latex and fiberglass, she exploited their flexibility to produce works with an unsettling psychic and corporeal resonance. Eva hesse was a germanborn american artist whose innovative sculptural installations composed of textiles, latex, and fiberglass ushered in a new conceptual era of sculpture in the 1960s. Eva hesse s art career spanned a mere 10 years from ages 24 to 34 but in that short amount of time she rethought sculpture, as a major player in. Eva hesse was an innovative sculptor, active in the 1960s, whose work has been much collected by museums. She is one of the artists who ushered in the postminimal art movement in the 1960s. Studiowork at the berkeley art museum, guest cocurator briony fer coined a new term to indicate the gray zone between avowed artworks and inchoate or abandoned efforts.
Eva hesse january 11, 1936 may 29, 1970 was a germanborn american sculptor known for her pioneering work in materials such as latex, fiberglass, and plastics. Curated by renowned hesse scholars briony fer and e. Hesse had a prolific yet short career, and her influence since her death at age 34 has been widespread. Aug 04, 2009 these small but sensuous experiments created in her studio can be seen as a collectioninminiature of hesses art, says art historian briony fer, in a new book on the sculptor published. Argues that eva hesses 19361970 studioworks force us to ask fundamental questions, not just about what an artwork is, but about the work that art does in our culture. In 1969 eva hesse was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Finally, a documentary about eva hesses life and work. The painter eva hesse eva hesse in her home and studio at 4 bowery, new york, untitled, eva hesse eva was a german born american sculptor, kno.
Eva hesse, germanborn american painter and sculptor known for using unusual materials such as rubber tubing, fibreglass, synthetic resins, cord, cloth, and wire. Argues that eva hesse s 19361970 studioworks force us. Luanne mckinnon, director, university of new mexico art museum, albuquerque, in collaboration with the estate of eva hesse and made possible by the fund endowment, the julius rolshoven memorial fund, and the robert lehman foundation. Throughout her career, eva hesse 19361970 produced a significant number of s. Eva s father, wilhelm, was barred from his law practice, and mother, ruth, frequently suffered bouts of. Eva lewitt, sol lewitts daughter, on her influences and. Its hard to unpick eva hesse s biography from her work, even though auteurs have been out of fashion for 30 years now. Staying as a guest of a prominent art collector in kettwigamruhr, eva was able to develop her work free from the confines of new york. Although she began her creative life in painting, at the age of 28 she switched to sculpture, a medium in which she gained a significant reputation in the 6 years before she died, thanks to. Argues that eva hesse s 19361970 studioworks force us to ask fundamental questions. The quirky, american painter and sculptor eva hesse was a pioneer of postmodernist art, whose short life ended tragically just as she began to gain recognition in the american art world. Dec, 2019 in her studio, courage fused with a dogged work ethic. In the 1960s, hesses work increasingly harnessed what she described as the total absurdity of life. Both artists found themselves drawn to unconventional materials, such as latex, plastics, erasers, and laundry lint, which they used to make work that was viscerally related to the body.
She was an innovator in using simple, found materials to create very organic yet minimalist form. Jewish germanborn american sculptor pioneering work in materials such as latex, fiberglass, and. It was the first time in lewitts entire career that he. Their studio space was a former factory with equipment half dismantled, from which hesse took inspiration by whimsically reenvisioning the machines in biomorphic paintings. Right after is one of the most famous works created by germanborn american artist eva hesse. It was to hesses advantage that a large studio had been given for doyles use, and in it, eva made her own space.