For his present “Hughmans,” New York sculptor Hugh Hayden has transformed Lisson Gallery’s snazzy, pristine Chelsea house right into a public restroom. Guests circumambulate the gallery, opening grey stall doorways and discovering sculptures inside. The playful intervention gives uncommon moments of privateness in a bustling metropolis—and thus encourages mischief in flip. As I spoke to the artist outdoors one of many stalls, we observed that the door had been locked, and peeped two pairs of toes poking out beneath. Certainly the duo may hear us focus on our need to get inside, however didn’t unlock the door for one more ten minutes or so. This devilment left the artist delighted. “There aren’t sufficient public restrooms in Chelsea,” he mentioned, smiling, whereas we had been locked out.
Hayden’s sculptures are meticulously handcrafted. He enlists a variety of supplies—rattan, brass, wooden—and pairs moments of humor with heaviness. By tucking his new sculptures away into stalls (all works 2024), he manages to suit a stunning quantity of them right into a gallery—this many would have in any other case felt crowded and overwhelming. Beneath, the architect-cum-artist opens doorways on just a few favorites.
For me, the 17 stalls are like a guide. You’ll be able to’t see all of the sculptures without delay—it’s important to open the door, or flip the web page. Whereas all of the works can stand alone, I wished the present to be an expertise. Generally, doorways get left open so you will get a glimpse. I attempted to create each public and intimate moments with every work.
The present brings collectively all these totally different supplies and totally different ideas. Individuals usually ask if the present is a survey, as a result of there are such a lot of totally different works. However the factor that unites all of them is a sure consideration to craftsmanship and element.
The present is known as “Hugmans” with an “S.” It’s just like the sequel to the present that I did final fall, at Lisson in LA. It had related works the lavatory stalls, however that present had extra of Hollywood lean: weapons and silicone and prosthetics, even a film director chair. I’m all the time exploring the fabric and the cultural significance of objects.
Hugh Hayden: American Gothic, 2024.
© Hugh Hayden, Courtesy Lisson Gallery
Among the works have humor to them, however that’s only one approach of it. One other individual may see one thing very totally different. Generally, the lives of different folks can appear so excessive and surreal that they develop into humorous and humorous. For one more viewer, that very same work is likely to be extra of a mirror. Somebody informed me American Gothic (2024) [two skeletons with tools for extremities] reminded them of their grandmother, who was all the time working and, by no means having the ability to relaxation, was all the time busy making an attempt to place meals on the desk for her household. I favored listening to that somebody may see themselves inhabit this work’s world. I’m fascinated about the American Dream, about capitalism, and about how the thought of usefulness can permeate somebody’s existence, in a really manual-labor sort of approach.
I made Plywood utilizing a technique of bent wooden lamination: very skinny plies of wooden get glued collectively after which stripped, in order that they’ll develop into bendable. I created these rib cages utilizing loads of various kinds of wooden. I used to be fascinated about plywood being a complete fabricated from many elements, just like the melting pot that’s New York: these higher our bodies are packed collectively and intertwined. All of the rib cages are made of various woods in numerous colours: white oak, padauk, cherry, ebony, black walnut, ash, and so forth. It’s like a salad of wooden, all handled the identical approach.
The rib cages hold on the form of stainless-steel construction you’d discover framing a subway seat: I wished it to seem as if we simply purchased these racks from the MTA, although truly, we made them. As an artist, I’m all the time recreating my imaginative and prescient of actuality.
Hugh Hayden: Plywood, 2024.
© Hugh Hayden, Courtesy Lisson Gallery
Sleepover is the one work that’s a couple of lavatory. It’s a two-person urinal, and these kind of melting pots (Black Don’t Crack 1 and 2) are mounted on the wall and mirrored within the mirror.
Walden is a skewed desk fabricated from black walnut with a guide on it. The backbone of the guide says The Life and Instances of Frederick Douglass, however the precise inside of the guide is Henry David Thoreau’s Walden (1854). The pages inside are additionally skewed 40 levels. Douglass and Thoreau had been born [in 1818 and 1817, respectively]. Each had been self-made males, however with very totally different life experiences.
For Harlem, I hung these gold cooking pot types from one other subway rack. It’s a part of a physique of labor I’m making about America as this melting pot, invoking America’s African origins by the use of a bodily pots. A few of these gold-plated forged iron skillets have African masks that had been solid into them. There are additionally gold-plated copper pots with brass devices braised into them. Collectively, there are seven pairs of musicians with devices. I used to be fascinated about the Harlem Renaissance and the creation of jazz, but additionally simply visible pleasure of like gold reflecting. The nearer the items are to one another, the deeper the gold reflections get.
Hugh Hayden: Nocecchio, 2024.
© Hugh Hayden, Courtesy Lisson Gallery
Sooner or later, I spotted that Pinocchio is known as Pinocchio as a result of he’s fabricated from pine. “Pino” is pine in Italian. So, in case you change the kind of wooden he’s fabricated from, his identify adjustments, too. This one is fabricated from black walnut, so he’s Nocecchio. I wished to make him look alive; his fingers are greedy the pedestal. He’s carrying a sailor go well with. I feel he’s very cute.
You’ll be able to see a part of Idol with the door closed, from above and under. I’ve an ongoing physique of labor involving basketball targets that morph in numerous supplies; usually they’re woven out of wicker, in order that they’re actually baskets, this historic type made by many cultures. Sometimes, they’re woven from supplies indigenous to a given space. This web morphs right into a physique: two legs with this corseted waist. I wove this piece completely myself—it took virtually 5 months. I discover most individuals check with it utilizing female pronouns. The LA present was rather more about masculinity. A homosexual membership had been the earlier tenant of the house, so I folded that into the narrative. However that is “Hughmans” plural, so it’s extra expansive, when it comes to issues like gender, maybe.