2 of 7 etchings in Porfolio: White Mammals 1998

Editor: Here we have Kiki Smith’s etching, "2 of 7 etchings in Portfolio: White Mammals." It's quite striking how the form hovers within the stark white space. What are your initial observations? Curator: The composition is indeed defined by its sparseness. The emphasis on texture, achieved through the etching process, is critical. The artist prioritizes the materiality of the medium itself. Note also the scale, how the dimensions contribute to the work's overall impact. Editor: So you’re focusing on the formal qualities, the line, the shape, and the way it uses the space? Curator: Precisely. The visual language speaks to a deliberate reduction, inviting contemplation on form and void. It's through these formal devices that the work begins to articulate its meaning. What do you make of its visual presence? Editor: I appreciate that perspective. I was so caught up in wondering about the subject matter that I missed some of those elements.