body object series #15, honey hat Possibly 1989 - 1993

Ann Hamilton made this gelatin silver print, "body object series #15, honey hat," to capture a performance or an action. I can imagine Hamilton being really interested in the possibilities of the materials, like honey, and how they behave and change through time and process. Look closely at the honey running through the figure's hands and dripping into the hat. It is viscous and dense, and there's a real sense of gravity as it pulls downwards. I think Hamilton is thinking about the connection between the body and object here. She's asking how our bodies interact with the things around us, how we touch and feel and manipulate them. Hamilton often worked with textiles and installation, creating these immersive environments that really get under your skin. Think about artists like Robert Morris and Eva Hesse, who were experimenting with unconventional materials and challenging traditional ideas about sculpture. Hamilton's work is about that same kind of exploration, pushing boundaries, and seeing what happens when you let materials lead the way.