Inspired By: KENNEDY YANKO

I previously referenced artist Kennedy YANKO in a blog post, where I declared her my new favorite artist. In fact, she’s my first favorite artist, as I’ve never before coined anyone as such.

I also shared how I became ill during the exhibit where I first encountered her sculpture. The discomfort felt almost spiritual, as I experienced such profound emotions while engaging with the artwork. I came across photograph that left me unsettled and I had to sit down. It was a photograph of a naked African American woman on an old coach. Reminded me of a low key prostitute. A side hustle for her. Virtue removed.

After declining EMS and expressing my desire to complete the exhibit, the next piece I encountered was Kennedy YANKO's sculpture, which quickly became my favorite. In my view, it was the best photograph I took, and it felt effortless. Two days later, I began reading and researching YANKO.

She is stunning and resonates with me as I appreciate beautiful women. YANKO embodies a bold spirit; she breaks rules, is physical, dances, and is both strong and emotional, as well as intellectually stimulating.

Her words carry significant meaning and fit every situation seamlessly. Listening to her interviews and learning about her spiritual practices inspired me to start a few of my own—exploring, playing, and passionately choreographing the nuances of life. This piece was inspired by YANKO.

Recently, I acquired an antique prayer desk that contained two Bibles in a cubby. I decided to scorch the pages of one Bible. The Holy Bible holds a special place in my heart, and burning the pages felt like sending incense to God, returning his words to the atmosphere. I prayed before doing so. There’s a story in the Bible when two men lit incense before in Gods presence without permission & they were immediately struck dead. “Yikes!”

This process felt like a spiritual practice, and I was blindly guided through it. I truly love what I've created and wanted to share it.

Title: Incense

By:Toni Johnson