Curatorial notes
Eva Hesse created 'Expanded Expansion,' using materials that challenge traditional sculpture. Hesse came of age as a female artist during the rise of the feminist movement in the 1960s, which challenged the male-dominated art world. Her work, often using latex and fiberglass, breaks away from the rigid forms of Minimalism, embracing a more fluid, organic aesthetic that has been interpreted as a distinctly female sensibility. 'Expanded Expansion,' with its hanging, skin-like panels, evokes a sense of vulnerability and the body’s fragility. Hesse once said that her art was about "the total feeling." The use of industrial materials, combined with its visceral, almost decaying appearance, challenges traditional notions of beauty and permanence. The work exists between sculpture and performance as the work changes over time. Ultimately, 'Expanded Expansion' speaks to the emotional and physical experiences of life, reflecting the shifting and often unstable nature of identity, and offering a powerful, personal statement in a time of great social and political change.