Kiki Smith arrived on the major art scene in the nineteen
nineties with an exhibition at MoMA and became an immediate star. She is richly
deserving of her following and her works are of a nature that is striking,
compelling and thought provoking. Kiki works in many mediums and is most famous
for her sculptor. It darts and dives, hangs from ceilings, attaches to walls
and sometimes is disjointed and scattered across the floor. This all from what
is largely the female form, plaster casts taken from her own body. Her work is
feminine in theme and content but she is not a feminist of the traditional
definition. Her work is far too
outreaching to be limited to a genre, too immense to be bracketed in terms. She
is possessed of a marvelous, mind and creative spirit. Her work is adventurous
and lively; a world treasure.
Kiki
comes from one of the most artistically creative families in the country. The
only other major American family that might be more artistic would be the
Wyeths. The two families’ approaches to art are very dissimilar but they both
are completely saturated with the bug. Kiki’s father; Tony Smith was a
celebrated for his minimalist sculptures. Her mother was an actress and opera
singer.
Her sisters; Seton and Beatrice, photography and theatre were
their interests respectively. Beatrice died young but Kiki and Seton continue
to work and support each other. The girls didn’t attend school and really had
little other career choice but fortunately were gifted and internally inclined
for the arts.
The mind, body and spirit were central elements to Kiki’s
original pieces. She continues to grow as an artist and her works including her
sculpture have become more narrative in nature. Myth, folk and fairy tales have
become central to many of her new works. These are especially evident in her
graphics and drawings. “Red Riding Hood” and “Alice in Wonderland” are among
her inspirations. At times she creates what could well be and truly are
beautiful illustrations. These coupled with unique works that turn the myths
inside out, upside down with a complete interchanging of metaphor. Her works
and vision is totally original and a leap forward into unexpected places.
There is an unrefined quality and freedom to the drawings of
Kiki Smith that is reminiscent of earlier artists like Marc Chagall and the
more contemporary Leon Golub. Her lacking of a true academic technique adds to
the charm and whimsy of her concepts in a way a more serious and structured
style would only serve to distract. The over-all impact of the pieces is
dominant in an illuminated text manner. Kiki is one of the most unrestrained
artists working today and there is a timeless quality to everything she
touches. The mystique and allure of Kiki Smith will only grow given time.
“It's really special when you share history with people and
are in the same field. We come from a background where it's completely natural
for someone to devote their life to a vision. It's an unsaid vision, one that's
constantly moving and falling apart, and sometimes there are really still
periods. Artists live in unknown spaces and give themselves over to following
something unknown. I see that in Seton's work and in mine.”
Kiki Smith
