An Analysis of Kiki Smith by Res. Asst. Dr. Ceren İren

Res. Asst. Dr. Ceren İren from the IGU Department of Graphic Design presented her paper titled “Human-Animal Interaction and the Textural Ontology of Etching in Kiki Smith’s ‘Blue Prints’ Series.” The study analyzes the relationship between the technical processes of etching and conceptual content through the lens of artist Kiki Smith’s 1999 series.

Technical Process and Bodily Representations
In her study, Res. Asst. Dr. Ceren İren evaluated printmaking not merely as a method of reproduction, but as a domain where the boundaries between species are debated through the acid-biting process of the metal plate. Analyzing the relationship between the marks created on the metal plate and the concept of "vulnerability" in nature, İren presented a technical reading of how textures obtained with the etching needle influence the distinction between human and animal representations.

The paper discussed the influence of the dominant blue tones in the series on mythological narratives and the textural possibilities offered by aquatint and drypoint techniques. It emphasized how the textural continuity provided by these techniques transforms the visual distinction between human skin and animal fur.

As the Department of Graphic Design, we congratulate Res. Asst. Dr. Ceren İren for her academic contributions and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.