Here, we ask an artist to frame the essential details behind one of their latest works.
Bio: Heidi Hahn, 39, Brooklyn (@heidihahn123)
Title of work: Soft Joy #5 (2022).
Where to see it: Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles (1227 N Highland Ave) until April 9.
Three words to describe it: Contour, body, mood.
What was on your mind at the time: I wanted the body to stand in for a certain formalism. The work is about shape and color, and it also happens to talk about the feminine through that lens. I needed to pack in concerns about painting into the body.
An interesting feature that’s not immediately noticeable: The textures—each area has a different feel. Also, the color combinations are strange but once together harmonize. The color looks localized but there’s actually a lot of contrast in the details.
How it reflects your practice as a whole: The work points to a future. The direction is becoming more abstracted and simplified. The early work was more narrative, but now the story is in the material.