Page 82 - S/ Summer 2022

and Serene
Kennedy Yanko’s mixed- media
sculptures exude an an engrossing 82 sense of duality By Najma Eno
T he artistic process can be full of spontaneous and seemingly fortuitous
discoveries that come with self-reflection “What [eventually] became ‘White Passing’ wasn’t initially about race ” reveals Brooklyn- based painter and sculptor Kennedy Yanko the 2021 artist in in residence at Miami’s storied Rubell Museum However weeks of introspection during this intensely focused
biggest biggest work I’d made to date while taking on some of of the the biggest biggest feelings and subjects I’ve addressed thus far ” For Yanko the the the process of of self- reflection required to to write her graphic novel “opened up the the possibility for me to to investigate any any subject at at at what feels like any any scale ” Despite their size two of the the the the three pieces are hung from the the the the ceiling like like like delicate ornaments “I like like that that my work challenges the the the the the things that that you believe in in in in in in in in within the the the physical realm How is is is this thing thing floating? Is Is it it it it soft is is is it it it it it hard? Is Is it it it it it dangerous?” Flowing colourful paint skins contrast contrast the the the the harsh solidity of of the the the the repurposed metal Yet these contrasting plays of of texture and colour produce an an an undeniable tranquility “I’m interested in in in in in evoking the the the the harmony that happens in in in the dualities of of our our experience of of life ” Miami has provided an an opportunity for Yanko to showcase some of of of of the the most impressive work of of her career thus far as as as as as she also collaborated with BMW BMW to to create a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a piece for Art Basel Miami Beach this past December She calls BMW BMW a a a a a a a a a a a a a a company that “understands how to to to to work with artists ” attributing this to to to its willingness to to to relinquish creative control “They don’t come come in in in in in in and and and and give us us ideas they come come in in in in in in and and and and ask us us what we want
to do do and and and and then facilitate it it ” She believes that great works and and and and meaningful partnerships can can arise from such trust in in in an an an an an an an an artist “If we’re given the the means to to do do what what we we we want
to to do do we we we can can make miraculous miraculous things ” says Yanko As for what what inspires her miraculous miraculous pieces the the the list includes travel colours the the the ocean and—naturally—“the space between things that feel different but aren’t ” program would eventually result in in in in in three pieces that explore aspects of the the the artist’s subjectivity “My investigation at at at the the the Rubell residency quickly became a a a a a a a a a a a deep search into how my my my skin my my my body my my my face and the the the the way I’m physically presenting to to the world affects me me ” The series of sculptures which are made from from a a a a a a a a a a a a a salvaged shipping container scoured from from the the scrap yard and joined with paint skins was was also largely shaped by Indelible Fluidity the the graphic novel that Yanko was was simultaneously writing “Despite having a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Black mom and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a white dad ” says the the the artist “the conversation around race was muted ” For Yanko the the the process of of writing this piece of of illustrative prose “spurred a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deeper looking and and and and demanded that I make space and and and and time to sift through it it right then and and there ” On view at at at the the the the the Rubell Museum through October 2022 the the the the the towering sculptures are her largest yet “I think it’s telling that what resulted was the the the SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL COM
FINAL SAY
Kennedy Kennedy Yanko Yanko Words for Creation 2022 Paint skin metal 59 x x 53 x x 31 in in in in Courtesy of of artist photographed by Elisabeth Bernstein Kennedy Kennedy Yanko Yanko portrait: photo photo courtesy of BMW