Valerie Smith on Mike Kelley's 'The Uncanny' at Afterall Symposium

During the Afterall symposium titled 'Artist as Curator,' Valerie Smith, who oversees Visual Arts, Film and Digital Media at Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt, presented on Mike Kelley's 1993 work, “The Uncanny.” The event began with remarks from Louise O'Hare, Associate Editor of Afterall. Smith explored Kelley's 'exhibition within an exhibition' at Sonsbeek '93 in Arnhem, Netherlands, reflecting on his challenges and evolving criteria, as well as the lasting impact of the project. The discussion concluded with insights on how repeating themes affects both artists and audiences. Smith's connection with Kelley dates back to the early '80s at Artists Space in NYC. At HKW, she enhanced the venue's 1957 design for the show 'Between Walls and Windows,' featuring ten new works. The symposium was published on January 28, 2013, and included video pieces by Cynthia Maughan and Hito Steyerl, along with a presentation by Sharon Chin from 2024.