Eva Hesse; sculptures and drawings

In the summer of 1979, an exhibition of Eva Hesse takes place in the museum. Initially Oxenaar only wants to exhibit drawings by the German-American artist ‘because the sculptures are often almost too fragile to transport’. But in collaboration with the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, this proves possible and both drawings and a large selection of sculptures can be shown. This includes the installation Accretion which was already acquired by the museum in 1977.

In the press release, Hesse’s work is described as ‘at first glance strange, absurd forms, often made of (wrapped) threads/ropes, plastic/rubber tubes or hoses and latex sheets. They hang on the wall or are freestanding in the space, forms that are repeated, placed in orderly rows or combined randomly or even chaotically’. Hesse’s former assistant, Bill Barrette, oversees the often complicated installation of the works.

The exhibition receives mixed reactions and is ‘greeted with great interest and respect {…] mainly by artists and art connoisseurs’. Oxenaar purchases three drawings from Hesse, including Untitled (study for contingent).