The artwork titled “Kiss the Sky,” created by Kent Monkman in 2010, is an exemplary piece within the Postcolonial and Queer art movements. Categorized as a mythological painting, this work encapsulates the artist’s exploration of indigenous identity, colonial histories, and queer perspectives.
The artwork depicts a dramatic landscape, presumably a canyon, with towering cliffs that recede into misty, mountainous horizons. The sky is turbulent, filled with swirling clouds that evoke impending weather. In the foreground, three human-like figures with wings are presented in various positions. Two of these winged beings are captured mid-flight; one appears to be holding the other in a tender, intimate embrace, signifying the possibility of a loving or caring gesture. Below them, on a rocky outcrop, is a figure with elaborate feathers adorning their back, reaching upwards, suggesting a connection or calling to the airborne duo. A third winged figure lies lifeless or in repose on another rock ledge, contributing a sense of gravity and perhaps sacrifice to the scene. The surroundings include detailed and vibrant natural foliage, indicating an untouched, almost mythical environment. The combination of these elements creates a complex and immersive depiction of mythological themes through a postcolonial and queer lens.
