Diaries
Back of the Book
"Giving life to a once white piece of linen stretched on 4 pieces of wood, to create a rich visual experience is indeed an intriguing complete experience," wrote Eva Hesse in a 1957 diary entry between notes on her weekly plans and further musings about her goals as an artist. In this extensive collection of Hesse's diaries, recorded from 1955 to 1970, readers are given an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of contemporary sculpture's most prominent figures. Despite personal tragedies and the difficulties she faced as one of the few female artists in the male-dominated postminimalist movement, Hesse remained intrepid in both her life and craft. Composed of twisted ropes and delicate plastic among other unconventional materials, Hesse's sculptures defy traditional notions of form; her deeply thoughtful practice as a sculptor and a painter are revealed at length in her writing.Born to Jewish parents in 1936, American painter and sculptor Eva Hesse fled Nazi Germany with her older sister at the age of two and eventually reunited with her family in New York City a year later. In 1959 she received her BA from Yale University, and within a few years began creating the sculptures that would put her at the forefront of the postminimalist movement. Though her life was cut short in 1970, Hesse's prolific output of artwork in her decade-long career has cemented her as a pioneer of contemporary sculpture.
We Love It Because
Hesse’s observations regarding the creative process of an artist posits Diaries as an essential read for artists who are attempting to articulate their own creative process. Hesse’s literary complexity and the complexity of the art-making process is revealed in her many simple reflections and consideration of the minutiae of art-making - the materials, the mediums and the methods. Hesse sets a precedent for a thoughtful process rather than hasty, ingratiating splatter.
Memorable Passage
I have so much stored inside me recently, I need to paint. This would imply painting to be so emotional outlet for me which would be fine evidence to prove so very many clichés. Certainly a great part but I am overflowing also with an energy of kind needed in investigating ideas, and things I think about. This is a positive creative notion very likely I want also to encourage, develop, bring out search into this thing of maturity-to be a big person-mainly as a person, then as a painter finally as a whole being.
About the Author
Eva Hesse (1936–1970) was a visionary German-American artist whose avant-garde approach to sculpture has had a profound and lasting impact on contemporary art. Born in Hamburg, Hesse fled Nazi Germany with her family, eventually settling in the United States. She emerged as a leading figure in the Post-Minimalist and Process Art movements, pushing the boundaries of materials and form. Hesse's work, often characterized by its organic, experimental, and unconventional qualities, challenged traditional notions of sculpture. Despite her tragically short career, Hesse's innovative use of materials like latex, fiberglass, and rubber, as seen in pieces such as "Untitled" and "Accession," has inspired subsequent generations of artists. Her legacy lies in her ability to redefine the possibilities of sculpture, infusing it with a sense of vulnerability and impermanence. Eva Hesse is worth knowing for her groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art, her influence on the feminist art movement, and her enduring impact on the dialogue surrounding materiality and form in the art world.
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