Reclaiming the Playground: Hugh Hayden's Artistic HomecomingA wooden playground looms tall in the entrance of Hugh Hayden's new show at the Nasher Sculpture Center. Dark, prickly bristles engulf the steps of the structure and its slide. It is a playground that cannot be played with. The piece, called Brush, was inspired by a playground in Duncanville, where Hayden grew up. The Dallas-born, Brooklyn-based sculptor didn't visit Kidsville often as a child, but car rides through the area reminded him of its presence. Made of wood, Hayden's primary medium, the playground represents a "thing of the past," he says.

Exploring the Complexities of the American Dream

Childhood Memories and Present-Day Critiques

"Homecoming," Hayden's first solo exhibition in Dallas, blends childhood memories with present-day critiques of American society. The show comprises over a dozen works that challenge the notion of the American Dream and its contradictions. Hayden's art was previously seen in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as part of the Amon Carter's 2023 Emancipation exhibition, showcasing his growing prominence in the art world.

Transforming Vernacular Objects

Curator Leigh Arnold describes Hayden's work as taking vernacular, easily recognizable objects and transforming them in ways that subvert their intended use. "It's going to cause you some pain if you actually try to engage with those things," she says, referring to pieces like Brush and Heaven, where branches of wood poke out from the arms of an Adirondack chair. Another example, Cutting Board, has red-tipped pencils jutting out from a cafeteria lunch table.

Illustrating the Seductive yet Difficult Nature of America

The American Dream and its contradictions — how social mobility proves elusive for many — is at the heart of these works. The branches, thorns, and jagged points help illustrate how "America is seductive, but a difficult place to inhabit," Hayden says. His art challenges the viewer to confront the complexities and contradictions inherent in the American experience.

Exploring Texas Culture and Identity

While some of Hayden's works are more prickly in nature, others take on American society and, more specifically, Texas culture as their theme. In Force Field, pills arranged by color compose a makeshift "drawing" of the Texas flag. The pills, which Hayden takes, are Zyrtec (an antihistamine), Propecia (a hair-loss treatment), and Descovy (an HIV preventative). Put together, they're meant to represent what it means to be a middle-aged, queer man from Texas.

Confronting Societal Expectations and Conformity

Blending In consists of lockers and a bark-covered football uniform that allude to Hayden's stint in the sport. "It's obligatory for a boy in Texas to play football," he says, comparing the gear to a form of camouflage. "I was this big guy and they were like, 'Oh, you should be an offensive lineman.'" He ended up quitting his high school team after a year and a half, challenging the societal expectations placed on him.

Homecoming and the Celebration of Identity

Halfway through the interview, two Nasher employees hand Hayden a homecoming mum with black and yellow ribbons that he pins onto his shirt. The Nasher show, he says, reminds him of the fanfare around homecoming week in Texas. "You're returning to your birthplace after you've been away. Returning home to be celebrated." Hayden's exhibition is a homecoming of sorts, a celebration of his identity and a reclaiming of the spaces and experiences that have shaped him.