Free Fall 1994

Editor: This is Kiki Smith’s "Free Fall," a lithograph. I’m struck by how vulnerable the figure appears, almost fetal in position. What do you see in this piece, especially given Smith's wider body of work? Curator: Smith often uses the body to explore themes of vulnerability, mortality, and female identity. The pose, suggestive of both falling and floating, invites questions about control and power. How might this image resonate with feminist perspectives on the objectification of the female form? Editor: So, it's less about literal falling and more about a symbolic loss of control within a patriarchal society? Curator: Precisely. Smith challenges us to consider the social and political forces that shape our understanding and experience of the body. Editor: That adds so much depth. It’s not just a body; it’s a statement. Curator: Exactly. Art can be a powerful form of activism.