Condensation Wall c. 1963 - 2016

Hans Haacke created this “Condensation Wall,” a transparent cube where water vapor transforms into a veil of moisture. Think about how it came into being – how it shifts and emerges through changes in temperature and humidity, as the invisible becomes visible. I sympathize with the artist, imagining his interest in systems, and what it might have been like to create this self-contained weather system. I think Haacke asks: can the simple act of enclosing air and moisture become art? The texture created by the condensation, the beads of water, all shape our experience of the artwork and contribute to its impact. Look at the vertical gesture of the drips, how they can communicate a feeling of ephemerality. Like the work of other process-based artists, Haacke’s piece highlights the beauty of natural phenomena, and our connection to the world around us. Artists are in an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. "Condensation Wall” embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations, a mirror reflecting the endless possibilities of art itself.