Portrait Laura Kikauka, Funny Farm, 1999 © Foto: Constance Hanna/MAK
image taken from here.
In my non-blog life I spend time administering the manifestation of words onto pieces of paper, mass-produced and bound together as objects with trade value and three-D charisma. My own writing is also printed on paper from time to time. Recently, a profile I wrote about Allyson Mitchell (who I initially posted about here) was published in Canadian Art magazine. Allyson is a good and fun artist and it was easy to write. In the profile I said the following about Mitchell's studio:
"The space is an overstimulating jumble of toys, collectibles, plastic flowers, tiny artworks that look like knick-knacks, tiny knick-knacks that look like art, books, zines, cushions and personal belongings."
The Toronto-area art-use of macramé and googly-eyes belongs to a local history that must acknowledge Fastwurms, Lisa Neighbour, lots of other people, and most of all Laura Kikauka, who's awesome kitsch-power blows the rest of us wannabes out of the water. In her current installation at Toronto's Power Plant, far far too many interesting things are crammed into small spaces for our delectation. Kikauka has organised her gee-gaws with a remarkable amount of grace. By all rights, the sheer quantity of toys, packages, sequins, photographs, lampshades, shoes and wispy glue-gun trailings should be oppressive, but there is a lightness to Kikauka's touch that says, "Don't worry, it's okay! Just look at the parts you like and then be on your way, but if you want you're welcome to come back another day."
return to: sally mckay and lorna mills
"...Post) have all now reviewed the summer exhibition at The Power Plant, featuring works by John Kormeling, Janet Cardiff and George Burres-Miller and Laura Kikauka. Catherine Osborne wrote only about the Kormeling exhibition. Sally McKay wrote about Kikauka's and Cardiff and Burres-Miller's piece in separate reviews. Sarah Milroy wrote about relations between the three exhibits together. ..."
"...I mean.. keep them where you can find them, in case I change my mind... but I have not yet succumbed to my kitsch-collector urges, nor am I an internationally renowned kitsch artist! I have a reputation to protect here. I mean, would you let your spouse bring these home? I'd like to continue to sleep indoors. So please. No owls! For now...."
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