A deep, almost transcendental impression that combines the inner being of the individual with the primordial themes of the (pro)beginning, "Mother Earth", female identity and spirituality, is omnipresent in the viewer of the exhibition "Kiki Smit. Woven Worlds" which was opened on Tuesday evening in the Petrović Castle of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro (MSUCG), in Podgorica.
This strong experience or stimulus of (re)connecting with oneself, man, nature, life, revives space and time for introspective reflection, subtly starting a dialogue between viewers and works of art, with a feeling of privacy, pleasantness, beauty, tranquility, but also movement, struggle , action, instinct...
It is absolutely impossible to record, conjure up or recount the works, details, process, emotion and narrative that are woven into the works of Kiki Smit, but also into the exhibition itself, which exudes a magnificent atmosphere.
The official opening ceremony of the exhibition was held in front of the Petrović Castle, under a bright starry sky, while the clouds were looming, hinting at the rain that came just long enough to complete the event. On that occasion, the director of MSUCG addressed those present Vladislav Scepanovic, one of the curators of the installation Milica Bezmarević, Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujovic, and the artist herself Kiki Smith joined via video call.
Renowned artist Kiki Smit is known for her innovative, multidisciplinary approach, but also her courage to explore the boundaries of identity, the body, social norms, the human being, levitating all the way to metaphysical themes that become completely intimate, and that was the case at the exhibition in Podgorica. Her work is recognized for its layered narratives in which a multitude of symbols alternate with different associations and emotions. The influence of all kinds of changes, both in her as an individual and in society globally, is visible in her works, but primarily the influence of changes in nature and the connection with them is felt. Motifs of women, animals, biological processes, but also regeneration, tradition and the contemporary, all-time are expressed, all of which the curators meticulously assembled into a mosaic of a complex story in which the personal, the universal and the sublime intertwine.
A large number of interested audiences patiently waited their turn to visit the exhibition in the park on Kruševac; it was entered in groups of about 50 people, and only when visiting the exhibition does its real importance and the spectacle of the event crystallize. Walking through the gallery space, admiration awakens and grows, while an irresistible vein of connection with oneself and the universe pulses, creating an intimate atmosphere and dialogue between the artist and the observer.
As Kiki Smit pointed out at the opening, her creativity is a process of "weaving fragments" with which she gradually builds her own life. The concept of weaving is perfectly reflected in the title of the exhibition, as well as in its structure, because each work carries a narrative thread that connects it with other works, creating a unique network of meaning and feeling that exudes peace, while at the same time questioning the essence of existence, the greatness of the female being, the power of nature and connection with him. In addition, the concept of weaving is also reflected in the technical specifications of the works, given the presence of magnificent tapestries, as many as nine out of 12 from the series created in the period from 2011 to 2017, when Smit, inspired by the monumental series of Apocalypse tapestries from Angers in France, created that cycle.
The exhibition also includes her first completed tapestry "Sky", which is part of a series about the four basic elements - earth, air, water and fire, while the rest also follow on from her focus on the fusion of the animal, plant and human world. Each of the presented tapestries is at the same time a (masterpiece) in itself, as much as a part of a big puzzle and the effective story behind it. Full of details, they evoke admiration, but also a kind of awe, because they seem to exude a deeper spirituality.
Magnificent tapestries, incredibly beautiful and powerful, just like sculptures in different materials, drawings, installations, graphics, reliefs..., perfectly reflect the connection of the artist with herself, with nature, with someone else, created or inner worlds into which she draws and the observer, completely subtle, not at all offensive or aggressive, pleasant to the senses and feelings while the eternal themes and questions of inscrutability, mysticism, cyclicity, but also harmony - art, life, nature, man, overall leaving a strong impression.
Filled with drawings and sculptures that attract attention and complete the experience, the meaningful and concisely designed rich exhibition perfectly follows and depicts the four decades long and rich career of the American artist born in Germany.
Among the others, there is also the monumental sculpture "Rapture" from 2001, which belongs to a series of sculptural works in which, as pointed out earlier, Smith develops a kind of mystical cohesion of human and animal identity, in which female figures emerge from animal bodies. Such segments of the exhibition develop additional lines of thoughts, symbols, stories derived from personal and/or collective experience. Powers and dreams from myths, legends, fairy tales and fables come to life, resulting in the idea of the strength of the individual and the eternity of the spirit, but also the eternal (female) struggle.
Technique is a special theme of the installation, it seems that perfection has been achieved and is unrepeatable. The entire gallery vibrates with an atmosphere of uniqueness and agreement with the one higher than ourselves, which actually shows the spirit and life of the artist Kiki Smith herself, who seems to have penetrated and learned the secrets of humanity, life, the planet and the cosmos through her works.
Thus, the exhibition represents a unique kind of cross-section of Kiki Smit's previous work, providing an insight into her indisputable art and being, additionally affirming the art and cultural scene of Montenegro and encouraging its development, but also spreading interest in the events in it, considering the importance of Kiki Smit's guest appearance. The exhibition is open until February 21, 2025, after which the works will be returned to the home gallery "Pace" in New York, America, and will not be presented in Europe anytime soon, therefore this is an opportunity for both the Montenegrin, regional and European public. , which should not be missed.
The fragments that make up life
The exhibition is based on the idea of showing how one can start with small fragments, continue with them, constantly knit and weave them like threads, in order to finally connect them, said Kiki Smit, addressing the audience via video call.
"All these fragments have their own life, and for me they make up and represent my life. I always try to follow my work and it happens that something, like a meteor or magic dust, tells me what to do next. This is exactly what opened many paths for me , ideas, gave me this kind of life," said Smit, emphasizing the hope that visitors will enjoy the exhibition, and that it will leave a strong impression on them.
She recalled the meeting with the director of MSUCG Vladislav Šćepanović in 2017, about which he presented more details to those present. Namely, they met at the Biennale of Contemporary Art in Venice in 2017.
"Already then I wanted to organize her exhibition in these areas. I am glad that, after seven years, I had the opportunity to realize this project in Montenegro, in our Museum of Contemporary Art," Šćepanović said.
"Life has its own way," Smith commented, thanking MSUCG, as well as the entire team involved in the preparation of the exhibition.
Synthesis of man, nature and animal world
The curator of the exhibition, Milica Bezmarević, emphasized the importance of cooperation that contributed to the realization of this extremely demanding project, on which she worked with curators from Belgrade. Ljubom Jovićević i Mirjana Dušić, who, with their experience and authentic energy, significantly contributed to the entire process of preparing the exhibition. She expressed her gratitude to the Minister of Culture and Media, Tamara Vujović, for her support, as well as to the artist herself and her assistant. Hillar Deez.
Bezmarević also pointed out that the exhibition is the result of close cooperation with the artist, as well as a partnership project of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro and the Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck from Remagen.
She reflected on the significance and subject matter of the exhibited works, as well as on the process of their selection and installation, and a more detailed review is available in the accompanying catalog.
Minister Tamara Vujović also expressed her impression of the exhibition, pointing out that the exhibition testifies to the inexhaustible creativity and universality of art that resonates with all of us, while Kiki Smit, through her works, invites us to reconsider our own prejudices and thoughts about identity, gender and culture. With that, Vujović believes, Smit reminds us of the complexity and beauty of human existence, all through symbols and universal themes.
Fulfilled plans for 2024.
Šćepanović expressed his satisfaction with the results achieved by MSUCG in the previous year, emphasizing that by opening this institution, they are closing this year's program.
"The Kiki Smith exhibition rounds off our exhibition program this year. It was one of the most challenging exhibitions we have realized, given that it is about an artist who works outside of Europe. The process of bringing the exhibition to Montenegro was extremely complex and represented a unique undertaking for our country. We are proud that we successfully overcame all the challenges and that the audience can enjoy the works of this renowned artist in the coming months," said Šćepanović.
He pointed out that the Museum has achieved everything planned this year, and that in the next year it is planning how to continue with programs and presenting internationally recognized names to the Montenegrin public. In addition, MSUCG is awaiting an even more difficult task, Šćepanović said, which is the presentation of Montenegrin artists on the world stage, which will further strengthen their visibility and affirmation.
Minister Vujović congratulated the management of the Museum of Contemporary Art on the work done, but also on the fact that, with this exhibition, it raised another level higher when it comes to choosing what it offers to the Montenegrin audience.
"The MSUCG exhibition spaces are becoming cramped for all the ideas and plans of director Šćepanović and his hard-working team of curators. I am really looking forward to the next steps in the realization of the project of building a new space for displaying contemporary art - a new museum building, on the banks of the Morača," she said.
According to Vujović, MSUCG is on the right track, as evidenced by the fact that an increasing number of audiences are present at events organized by them.
"This means that we are on the right path for contemporary art to get the place it deserves both in space and in discourse."
Bonus video:
