Michael E. Smith

About

Michael E. Smith uses objects as language. Collection and selection are at the crux of his practice, as he often begins with what he refers to as “material sketches” in his studio. In Smith’s hands, the anonymous becomes intimate. Consumer products bear the traces of use, suggesting both their former lives and functions. Simultaneously, ephemeral materials taken from the natural world are transformed through Smith’s intervention - taxidermy is encased in resin, or elsewhere, coral, leaves, and fossils are shaped to resemble recognizable forms. Brought together in Smith sculptures, these components enact a tenuous balance between preservation and degradation, illustrating time as both a generative force, and one of destruction. While these combinations evoke the waste and erosion that defines our culture, they also are deeply rooted in the everyday, building a distinct emotive resonance, which oscillates between humor and despair. Smith alters the spaces of his exhibitions, through the addition of sound, as well as alterations to existing architectural features and lighting. In turn, site becomes an active participant in the shaping of his work, as his interventions not only affect his works themselves, but what surrounds them. Negative space, or the absence between works, becomes a material in itself. As each element of Smith’s installations brings its own accumulated histories and referents, Smith’s exhibitions become a form of sculptural prose, pointing towards the fragility of our lived environment. 

Michael E. Smith’s exhibition at 55 Walker was developed in parallel to his project A Handful of Eggs, a series of curated events at Giorno Poetry Systems presented from April 11 - 13. Conceived as what the artist describes as “4-D mixtapes,” the five events aim to create unique, intimate environments, incorporating sculpture, light, as well as musicians Smith loves. For the full schedule and tickets, visit Giorno Poetry Systems.