The Research and Academic Program presents 'A Set of Ways of Engaging': Lisa Lee on Thomas Hirschhorn & Materiality

In this episode of 'In the Foreground', Starr Director Caroline Fowler discusses Swiss artist Thomas Hirschhorn with Lisa Lee, (Florence Gould Foundation Fellow, spring 2020). Whilst at the Clark, Lee worked on a project tentatively titled 'Thomas Hirschhorn’s Real Abstraction, 1984–94', which focuses on a critical period for the Swiss artist, who is known for his work in collage and monument-making. Through working primarily with found and inexpensive materials, and often in public spaces, Hirschhorn’s art grapples with the political, economic, and social conditions of contemporary life. This conversation explores Lee’s interest in artworks that highlight the power of art to effect socio-political change.

Lisa Lee is an associate professor of art history at Emory University. She is the author of 'Isa Genzken: Sculpture as World Receiver' (University of Chicago Press, 2017), editor of 'Isa Genzken' (October Files) and co-editor, with Hal Foster, of 'Critical Laboratory: The Writings of Thomas Hirschhorn' (MIT Press). She is at work on a monograph analyzing the first decade of Hirschhorn’s artistic career, focusing on his solutions to form, display, and distribution