Michael Weinstein

Taking to heart philosopher Martin Heidegger's dictum that human existence is a process of perpetual falling, Kerry Skarbakka takes color shots of himself executing death-defying tumbles from precipices and down stairs. Not willing to be a sacrifice to art, Skarbakka suspends himself with the aid of climbing gear and then erases the supports digitally, leaving the rest of the image pristine. Skarbakka is not out to simulate a stuntman; his intention is to provide a visual analogue of his existential agonies, which he invites us to share with him. When we see Skarbakka plunging into a bottomless black pit, he wants us to realize that we are always prey to losing our footing in life and to "catch ourselves" before our illusions of security lead us straight into the abyss.

Kerry Skarbakka's "Existential Blues" is at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago, (312) 280-2660, through December 29.

(2002-12-18)

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