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Endochrinology |
In this collaborative project between a poet and a visual artist, the human body is viewed through the functioning of the endocrine system. The work continues Berssenbrugge's brilliant explorations of language in the light of changes in the body's chemistry. However, in the process of this collaboration, the syntactical sentence, which for many years has been the hallmark of Berssenbrugge's poetry, has been disrupted. Her long lines are broken and order and meaning are constellated in new ways.
Winner of the Asian American Literary Award, 1997.
With the poet Mei-mei Bersenbrugge she made a book titled "Endocrinology"
that turns the lymphatic system into a succession of floral still lifes.
Over-all, the work comes across as both cool and confrontational. Its
spirit matches that found in Buddhist texts that teach disciples to overcome
their terror at the prospect of dissolution by mentally dissecting the
body and scrutinizing its parts: "hairs of the head, hairs of the
body, nails, teeth, skin; muscles, sinews, bones, marrow, kidneys; heart,
liver, spleen, lungs; intestines, stomach; excrement, brain; bile, digestive
juices; pus, blood, grease, fat; tears, sweat, spittle, snot, fluid of
the joints, urine." Ms. Smith's prints embody just such a litany.
from: Art Review
Kiki Smith: The Body in All Its Mortal Urgency
December 5, 2003
In its original form the work was produced by Bill Goldston at Universal Limited Art Editions, Inc. The Kelsey St. edition was made from photocopies of the original book.
Read Mei-mei Berssenbrugge's bio.
Read Kiki Smith's bio.