Kate Zambreno's 'Foam' Explores Motherhood, Art, and Precarity
Kate Zambreno's new novel, Foam, published by Semiotext(e), delves into the constraining effects of capitalism on creativity. The narrative centers around a writing adjunct navigating the complexities of childbirth amid the pandemic, struggling with financial pressures and looming deadlines. Residing in a deteriorating apartment, she finds support from 'The Evas,' former students aiding her quest for autonomy. The author weaves in critiques of art, highlighting the works of Eva Hesse and Senga Nengudi. Zambreno, who teaches in New York, candidly remarked on the ethical dilemmas of childcare. Foam is now available for readers.
Key facts
- Foam is published by Semiotext(e).
- The novel is inspired by the soft sculptures of Eva Hesse.
- The narrator is an adjunct writing professor without maternity leave.
- The narrative includes a pandemic delivery and a fainting episode on a Brooklyn street.
- Art criticism in the book discusses Eva Hesse's Repetition 19 and Expanded Expansion, Senga Nengudi's RSVP, and Gabriela Salazar's apartment window studies.
- The name 'Eva' recurs as a motif for multiple figures, including Hesse and a cardiologist.
- Zambreno says there is 'no truly ethical way to pay someone else to take care of your child.'
- The novel critiques neoliberal university responses to student suicides, such as distributing foam stress balls.
Entities
Artists
- Kate Zambreno
- Eva Hesse
- Senga Nengudi
- Gabriela Salazar
- Peter Sloterdijk
Institutions
- Semiotext(e)
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Brooklyn