I came to New York pretty informed on Heide Hatry; I had seen her book Not a Rose, and figured I had a decent understanding of her work. I was so wrong. For weeks I was being told snippets about Heide’s upcoming project: Rust and I looked forward to meeting her and to see her work in the flesh. I should probably preface with the fact that I am no good with art, I know nearly nothing about it nor do I have the tools to dissect it. That being said here are my thoughts:
I have been to several galleries during my time in Manhattan and all of them were cold cement, white walls and open, so when I descended the stairs to Heide’s gallery I was surprised. When I arrived at the gallery and the Rust Room, I had no idea that I had actually walked though it. Her gallery, which I found out was actually labeled as storage space, was a sequence of three small rooms. The first room had a couple of chairs, a projection screen, which was playing footage from Hatry’s Skin project. This depicted Hatry skinning pigs, and creating a room and human faces out of their flesh. (Which I found stomach turning) The next room was very small, the size of a tiny bathroom, and was lit by candles. I passed quickly through this space and into the final room which featured more pictures from Skin. I browsed the walls of the beautiful photos of Heide’s other projects, and then inquired about the Rust Room only to find out I had walked right through it. The tiny room lit by candles, was in fact, the Rust Room. I peered in for a second time and realized that everything in this room had been rusted: the walls, ceiling, the chair, the table even the candles that lit the small space were rusted.
I know that a lot of time, energy and creativity went into making the Rust Room, but I found that I was underwhelmed, and this is no one’s fault but my own. Everyone who spoke to me about it this project had built it up and I envisioned a giant gallery filled with these rusted things and was totally shocked by how small the room actually was.
Whatever my personal opinion is on the aesthetic is really irrelevant. In listening to Hatry talk about what inspired her to make the Rust Room was truly inspiring. Her opinions and beliefs are what fueled this work of art and hearing her pour her heart out about these things that meant so much to her made me appreciate her work and passion so much more. (Regardless of the fact that I couldn’t stomach the animal skinning.) Her vast knowledge and obvious research really spoke to me. Even though I didn’t love the art itself, whether that be because I don’t understand it or because I didn’t connect to it, it is clear that her work is something too be appreciated. Heide Hatry oozes talent and creativity. I applaud and thank her for her contribution to my experience of art and to the arts in general.
