'The Difficult Part' by Brian Kershisnik

Brian Kershisnik, ‘The Difficult Part,’ bronze, 2024. Courtesy of the artist. On loan at the Museum in the exhibition 'The Difficult Part.'

Two acrobatic bodies move and dance around each other. Creating a dynamic circular shape, they twist, bend, and flip in rhythm with the other. Their actions, though individual, are interdependent. A theme that Kershisnik has explored previously, the work has multiple layers of meaning. Initially considering a marriage relationship, Kershisnik conveys the complexities of supporting each other in complementary ways while recognizing the at-times awkward and challenging poses one must perfect over time. In a larger sense, the figures can represent any relationship: siblings, friends, parent/child, even one with God. Life requires a heroic kind of acrobatic excellence as we juggle to complete all the tasks set before us, while also loving others and God. Kershisnik investigates this uneasy balance with couples who shift from initially clumsy movement to a graceful, though usually still imperfect, equilibrium.