Richard C. Smith
13
Detail of 'Holding On' 2012.
This is magnificently demonstrated in another piece, Holding On (2012), whose
primary aspect is that of a seated man grasping a colossal phallus topped by
its own round, red face. The head of the man can be removed, revealing a fur-
ther little totemic figure now topped by a vast multi-faced head. The hinged,
humanoid head of the phallus opens to reveal a little white creature that is a
forlorn-looking seated dog in one aspect and a more belligerent female figure
in the other. Turning the figure upside down reveals two blue figures on the
buttocks supporting a long, amorphous shape that is simultaneously both
anus and nestling creature. Smith sees this as immensely important to his
work: “That’s my added ingredient,” he confides, “I’m not satisfied with just
doing a little figurine or a figure, I have to open it up, give it a soul. There are
gatherings of souls in each piece.”

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