Untitled
Oscillating between the “physiology” and “psychology” of things, the works of Michael E. Smith offer an outline of the “archaeology of humanity”. His sculptures form a residual ensemble where emptiness is paramount. The artist proposes to confront the eco- logical and economic upheaval of our times by recovering abandoned objects. Having grown up in Detroit, an American city that has become the emblem of industrial decline, his work is deeply permeated by this collapse. His 2012 work Untitled consists of fish skin and straw, both dried out by the sun. Hanging on a wall, they evoke a potential upcoming transformation in muted and ascetic tones. Through a great economy of means, the work serves as a laconic reflection on the notion of resilience.
Exhibitions
Centre international d'art et du paysage - île de Vassivière, Beaumont-du-Lac (France)
from 19 Mar to 05 Jun 2017