Healers 2018

Curator: Kiki Smith, born in 1954, created this striking print, called "Healers." The work presents a dense bouquet of dandelions rendered in delicate, almost ethereal, etching. Editor: At first glance, there's a melancholy beauty to it. The monochrome palette and the density of the composition evoke a sense of quiet contemplation, almost like a Victorian mourning token. Curator: Considering Smith's broader body of work, this piece resonates with themes of the body, healing, and our complex relationship with the natural world. Dandelions, often dismissed as weeds, become symbols of resilience. Editor: And consider the history of dandelions themselves! They've long been associated with folk medicine. This print transforms a humble weed into a potent emblem of healing and perhaps even resistance against societal expectations of beauty. Curator: Exactly. Smith often challenges conventional narratives through her art, inviting us to re-evaluate overlooked subjects, particularly those related to the female body and the history of medicine. Editor: It leaves you thinking about the stories we tell ourselves about health and worth. Curator: Absolutely. The image subtly urges us to reconsider our definitions of both.