Living, Assisted
Article by Miguel Sagaz
“The past is present, but it does not define me today. It is not about forgetting, it’s about acknowledging how my residual histories complete me. It’s about holding my own space, and not letting anyone hijack it. It’s about not feeling accountable to you, or others before myself. It’s about knowing, I don’t have to answer if you call”
Finnley J. Kirkman
After reading this statement by Kirkman, I couldn’t help but wonder, if a part of myself ( the one that at times felt responsible for the well-being of others before mine) was directly being confronted.
The longing for validation in an unrecognized job, the nurturing of a daily toxic relationship, or perhaps the ghostly image of self-worth, that excels at blurring the lines of what it means to be successful.
All of these little soldiers were being called out of the trenches. And that is the power of ART. The ability to confront, move and make you see things in a different light. Perspective can either be your prison or your passport; perhaps that is exactly what Finnley J Kirkman had to go through to create LIVING, ASSISTED.
However personal her work might appear to be, Kirkman explores a universal message of resilience, and the power dynamics that exist within the empowered and disempowered in her latest installation Living, Assisted.
Strands of braided hair, attached to carrots hang from the ceiling at 718 Mateo St, in Los Angeles. The perfect spot to host Finnley’s installation until October 15th, 2022.
Imagery that’s vivid, organic, and visceral. Ripped to-do lists and notes have been sown into quilts which now produce something quite beautiful, yet are filled with sorrow and longing that can be recognized while getting close to each piece, taking in every detail. “The quilts are the experience and the journey, the carrots are the answer”.
“The quilts are the experience and the journey, the carrots are the answer".
Finnley J. Kirkman
Trapped carrots in gilded cages, reflect the fear of walking away from the promise of achieving those dangled dreams.
Learning how to compromise and put oneself first is a big theme in Finnley’s work, as she explores what it means to realize that the dreams you once thought to be real, might’ve never existed to begin with.
“Hope is the planting of your own carrots”. It takes energy and consistency to pursue your own dreams.
“The work in Living, Assisted is about finding my own voice, reintroducing myself to myself”
Finnley J. Kirkman
Kirkman tells me, it was through art that she realized she had been experiencing depression. She, unfortunately, had to get to such a low place in order to be forced to walk away and hit re-start. “It was out of desperation to save myself. I felt like I was emotionally and mentally dying. It’s a terrible place to be”.
Healing was her only option moving forward.
Kirkman believes in sewing love into everything she does, reconstructing and creating her path forward in a healthy and creative way where she takes accountability for her own happiness and well-being.
“The work in Living, Assisted is about finding my own voice, reintroducing myself to myself”
In this game of life, Finnley J Kirkman knows that being an artist comes with a lot of responsibility. And as many artists do, she questions the worth of her work at times, but she finds it very liberating as well.
In my opinion, it would be irresponsible not to share her work. Every stitch on those quilts, every strand of hair, and every dangling carrot is a reminder of the strength that is found in vulnerability, and the importance of enjoying the beautiful journey that being human truly is.
LIVING, ASSISTEDSEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 15, 2022.GALLERY HOURS: MONDAY-SATURDAY 12-6 PM718 MATEO ST, UNIT 5. Los Angeles, CA 90021