Eva Hesse
“In my inner soul art and life are inseparable.”
Eva Hesse was born into a Jewish German family ensnared in a world of drama. Her family fled Nazi Germany for New York city when she was only three-years-old. Her developmental years were then filled with further misfortune: her parents divorced and a year later her mother committed suicide. Although her crucial early years were marked by tragedy, art was close to Hesse's heart.
Hesse was a very accomplished student and dedicated her time to school and her art practice. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Yale University in 1959 and studied under art super power Josef Albers. Hesse returned to the city to focus on her own art practice style.
What makes Hesse’s art style unique was her use of materials. She used items such as metal, mesh, wire, string, fiberglass, cheesecloth, cord, found materials and latex. With the skill of a master, she was able to manipulate these objects into three-dimensional sculptures. They can be seen in the round, giving them a physical space or awareness of the viewer of Hesse’sworld they are entering. It was not just the use of more unconventional materials, but how she manipulated them that made her works stand out. Her works are extremely delicate but she was interested in the fragility of life and showing complexity in simplicity.
At the end of her life, Hesse received acclaim from institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art. These museums today house some of her works in their privatecollection that you can see during a visit. Tragically, Hessedied of a brain tumour and her life was cut short, but her style remains as avision for many modern artists. She successfully created a world within herart that demanded attention, making her a true boss babe.
Written by Erin Remington
Source: Britannica