1990s "Marginal Madonna" Abstract Relief With Rorschach Patterns Sculpture by Mickey "Kano" Kane

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"Marginal Madonna" Abstract Relief Sculpture

Carved sculpture and painting by Mickey "Kano" Kane (American, 20th century). This large-scale relief sculpture … Read more "Marginal Madonna" Abstract Relief Sculpture

Carved sculpture and painting by Mickey "Kano" Kane (American, 20th century). This large-scale relief sculpture features The central figure, representing the Madonna, features elongated, flowing lines and a decorative halo-like element adorned with circular currency and dollar sign motifs throughout. The body of the figure appears textured and layered, incorporating various materials and colors, including shades of gold, yellow, green, and hints of purple and blue. The background is dark, providing a stark contrast to the illuminated central figure, and includes abstract patterns that suggest wings or a surrounding aura. The overall composition evokes a sense of spiritual or mythical presence through its abstract and symbolic representation. Apparently Mickey is also a fan of the Rorschach patterns, he uses them as an underlying theme, perhaps to challenge our perceptions as the viewer. This piece demonstrated Kano's refined woodworking skills with a variety of textures and finishes. (The Rorschach test, also known as the Rorschach inkblot test, is a psychological test in which individuals are shown a series of inkblots and asked to describe what they see. Developed by Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, the test is used to analyze personality characteristics and emotional functioning, and to potentially identify thought disorders. The test is considered a projective measure, meaning it assesses how a person perceives and interprets ambiguous stimuli.)

Kano's work is outsider art - characterized by its creation outside the boundaries of mainstream art and often by self-taught or unconventional artists. Outsider art encompasses a diverse range of artists, including self-taught visionaries, psychiatric patients, and those outside the mainstream art world.

Titled and signed on verso
"Marginal Madonna" Kano 92
Panel size: 48"H x 72"W

Mickey “Kano” Kane (American, 1939-2002) was born in Illinois and grew up in Sacramento, CA. Kane moved to the Pacific Coast and worked on mixed media panels - which he would refer to as a “Totem” – and detailed collage compositions. His collage work is generally satirical or critical in nature, frequently dealing with themes of money, capitalism, government, power, and debt. By contrast, his “Totem” sculptural work is abstract and free of direct symbolism, focusing instead on the aesthetics of the composition.

Original Member, Artist’s Cooperative Gallery

Artist’s Statement:
The Totem is indicative of the unfolding 21st Century, graphically and metaphorically. It is neither one side nor the other, nor does one side challenge or compete with the other. Each side cooperates and thus enhances the other so that both "sides" transcend that definition into a composition revealing that, indeed, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The Totem reflects the inner harmony that all sides, whether two or two thousand, are striving to manifest in their own inimitable way. See less