Las Animas

1997

Kiki Smith has long explored the physical and psychological aspects of female embodiment within a feminist context, as well as the spectrum of symbolic, spiritual, and intertwined tangible relationships between animals and humans. Juxtaposing closely cropped images of her body in aggressive, animalistic stances, this self-portrait of Smith is confrontational in its frank depiction of body and soul, as suggested by the title: las animas is Spanish for “the souls.”