The After Hesse series developed in 2021 when I invited people to engage with my tattoo of Eva Hesse’s Hang Up. This exercise created space for individuals to engage with a creative practice in a personal and playful way. Inspired by Hesse’s practice, this project emphasized experimenting with processes and materials directly onto my body.
Students were introduced to the project and were given multiple avenues to create responses to the project. After learning about the artist Eva Hesse and her approach to materials, students were invited to experiment and play with various objects and materials found in the art studio. Challenging students to consider unconventional materials, students had to find a way to develop sculptural forms onto an image. Students were then given a large photo that they had to work on together. They had to develop a concept and find a way to execute it while working together on a shared space..
While all students were given the same starting point and access to materials each individual created a unique response. There is no right or wrong way to approach this prompt. The goal of this project is to have people challenge their creativity and give them space to make an artwork, without the pretense of refined materials or a singular model of how it is supposed to look. This project validates everyone’s ability to create art regardless of training, experience, or access to material.
