Born
2002
Bronze 39" x 101" x 24"
Collection of Sarah Norton Goodyear Fund

       Kiki Smith's art is startling, provocative, and often difficult to look at. She uses images of the human body, its forms, internal organs, and biological systems to make compelling, and sometimes shocking, artworks that are about human existence. In works of art such as Born, Smith moves beyond the body to incorporate a complex personal symbolism, which addresses the role of humans in the wider context of nature and the universe.
        This work is a representation of a small deer giving birth to a life-size woman. By presenting such an unusual subject in a classically modeled bronze sculpture, Smith both creates and thwarts expectations. The traditional style, technique, and material are at odds with the decidedly untraditional subject matter. Yet, similar imagery can be found in the mythology, folklore, and creation legends of many cultures. The deer has a rich and complex symbolic tradition surrounding it as well. In Classical Greek mythology, a deer accompanies Diana, Goddess of the Hunt. The Panche Indians of Colombia believe that human souls pass into the bodies of deer after death, and in many European traditions, the male deer is a symbol of renewal and rebirth.
       Much of Kiki Smith's recent art alludes to our complex and sometimes troubled relationship with nature. She has said that she believes 'the fate of humankind is intimately interconnected with the health of the environment.' Perhaps Born is her way of making a personal and provocative statement to that effect.