Eva Hesse's Expanded Expansion: A Degrading Masterpiece at the Guggenheim

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York is exhibiting Eva Hesse's Expanded Expansion (1969), a large sculpture made of latex and fiberglass that has significantly degraded over time. The work, once transparent and soft, is now hard and brown due to oxidation. The exhibition raises questions about conservation ethics and artist intent, as Hesse died in 1970 without leaving instructions for preservation. Curator Lena Stringari explains that after years of debate, the museum decided to display the work despite its altered state, noting it was deteriorating in storage. The show includes a video, photographs, and latex samples for visitors to touch, allowing them to imagine the original appearance. Hesse, born in Hamburg in 1936, fled Nazi Germany and studied at Pratt Institute and Yale under Josef Albers. She created Expanded Expansion using latex, fiberglass, and resin, with movable panels that change the sculpture's form. The work was first exhibited at the Whitney Museum in 1969 alongside Richard Serra, Bruce Nauman, and Joel Shapiro. The exhibition runs until October 16, 2022.