Maren Hassinger's art is a testament to the power of simplicity and the magic that can be found in everyday actions. For over five decades, she has been creating site-specific sculptures that are both captivating and thought-provoking, often through the most mundane of activities: tying knots, twisting metal, and breathing into plastic bags. Her work, currently on display at the Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA), is a celebration of the quotidian, inviting viewers to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
What makes Hassinger's art so compelling is her ability to transform the familiar into something new and surprising. Take, for instance, her piece 'Untitled Rope'. Four thick lengths of industrial rope, each arranged into a loose macrame knot, tantalizingly on the verge of being pulled taut. It's a simple concept, but the way Hassinger presents it encourages viewers to imagine themselves as part of the performance. As BAMPFA senior curator Anthony Graham points out, 'I always approach the sculpture thinking that it’s this latent performance. Like if we were just to walk on either end, pick up the rope, and close the knot together, we’d be pulling away, but also joining us closer.'
This idea of connection is a recurring theme in Hassinger's work. In her piece 'Love (Pyramid)', she fills numerous neon pink plastic shopping bags with her own breath and a tiny love note, then pins them to the gallery wall. It's a simple act, but it becomes a powerful symbol of unity and care. The piece requires ongoing maintenance, with museum staff regularly refilling the bags with air, ensuring the sculpture remains a living, breathing work of art. This act of care becomes a metaphor for the care and connection we all share.
Hassinger's use of knots and repetitive gestures is not just about creating visually striking sculptures. It's a way of drawing attention to the often-overlooked beauty in the mundane. As Graham explains, 'Tying knots is a skill that is at once everyday, like tying one’s shoes, but could also be decorative, like macrame, or could be industrial, like the kinds of knots that are needed on ships. In a lot of her work, there are these kind of repetitive gestures, but really approached with a sculptural sensibility so that there’s a shift in scale.'
The 'Sign of the Times' is a particularly intriguing piece. It features innumerable strips of the New York Times carefully twisted and tied together to form massive ropes of newspaper that hang down from a gallery wall. This work is not just a visual spectacle; it's an invitation for the community to participate in its creation. Over time, as Hassinger leads monthly workshops, the sculpture will grow, eventually filling the entire gallery. It's a powerful reminder of the collective effort required to create something truly meaningful.
Hassinger's art is also deeply personal and political. Her video pieces, such as 'Birthright' and 'Daily Mask', explore themes of race and identity. 'Birthright' documents her family history, while 'Daily Mask' shows her applying grease paint to her face, a stark depiction of blackface. These works are a testament to her own experiences as a Black female artist, and her determination to challenge the status quo.
The retrospective at BAMPFA is a significant moment for Hassinger, and it arrives at a time when her work is particularly relevant. As Graham notes, 'At the root of Hassinger’s artistic work one finds caring and joy, and her intent is to open up spaces of sharing. Recalling a Hassinger newspaper workshop in Ohio, she paraphrased the artist as she held up a gigantic wad of rolled-up newspaper: “If we can come together to make something as absurd as a newspaper ball, we can come together to bring love to one another always.”'
This sentiment is what makes Hassinger's art so powerful. It encourages viewers to slow down, pay closer attention to the world around them, and appreciate the beauty in the simple gestures and materials that surround us. As Graham hopes, 'I hope that the show helps people slow down and pay closer attention to the world around them, to see all of the small gestures and movements and materials that we’re constantly surrounded by that are full of meaning. It’s the power that these very simple gestures have, that when we do them together, we can really make a change.'
Maren Hassinger: Living Moving Growing is a must-see exhibition for anyone interested in art that challenges, inspires, and connects. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that the simplest of actions can have profound meaning. So, if you're in the Berkeley area, be sure to visit BAMPFA before the exhibition ends on November 29th.
