Love Poem for Lil Kim

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german began producing “power figure” sculptures during the mid 2010s. Drawing inspiration from Central African Nkisi N’Kondi figures, german’s sculptures are largely constructed from materials she’s scavenged from her Homewood neighborhood. In the tradition of minksi (nkisi plural), german’s works are produced with the intent of promoting healing and repair, while also existing as vessels for powerful forces. Love Poem for Lil’ Kim is a key example of german’s power figures and is a tribute to American rapper and hip-hop icon Kimberly Denise Jones, whose stage name is Lil’ Kim. After performing for a short time with the Brooklyn-based group Junior M.A.F.I.A. in the early 1990s, Lil’ Kim released her solo album Hard Core in 1996 to much acclaim—its debut as number 11 on the Billboard 200 was the highest debut for a female rap album at the time. “I remember when Lil’ Kim first came on the scene,” says german, “and how powerful a presence she was, a really galvanizing presence in hip hop because of her relationships with rappers, but also because of the way she was sex and body positive.” german’s love poem for the singer takes the form of a power figure composed from sourced materials that includes tennis shoe keychains, bamboo earrings, AstroTurf, and glass bottles. As a power figure, the sculpture’s primary intent is to protect and heal Lil’ Kim, who admitted to undergoing reconstructive and plastic surgery after surviving several episodes of domestic abuse. Yet the work’s force is not only intended for Lil’ Kim “but for all other Black women and Black girls,” german adds, “…a force that protects sex positive, body positive, creative, bold, courageous Black girls and Black women.” --Jared Ledesma, Senior Curator

Keywords

Sculpture
mixed media
found object
female
shoes
pink
keys
wood
glass
beads
crystals
mirrors
love