The changing face of portraiture- New works by Richard Smith
New Works By Richard Smith 5 – 26 July 2008

Artist Richard Smith returns to Johannesburg’s Artspace gallery with a collection of new work. 

Working primarily through the genre of portraiture, Smith has become best known for his large scale, confrontational works that combine intense attention to the details that capture his subjects, with a pop art edge.

Smith’s previous two shows, hosted at Constitution Hill and curated by Teresa Lizamore in 2005 and at Artspace, Fairland in 2007 were both virtual sell-outs.

Says smith ‘ I draw portraits. They are of people who are living, and people who are imagined. Because of their size, I always arrive at an image of enormous power (and presence).” 

The works usually stare out from the format in an uncompromising manner. The directness of the subject is broken by placing objects, symbols, cartoon images or grid patterns across the picture plane. This brings an added dimension to the work and sets up a tension between the subject and the icons placed in front of it. The objects may be dots or crosses in a grid pattern or randomly placed icons that don’t necessarily bear any relation to the subject. Sometimes a third plane is created in the form of a grid. The subject in the background becomes separated from the objects in the foreground by a definite barrier.

“By doing this, I seek to rob them of their power” says Smith, “ I interfere with them by placing objects in front of them.”

Of his medium, he says “ I use just about every material that can be thrown at a piece of paper without hurting it.”

Smith has an extensive exhibiting and art making career that spans over four decades, participating in group shows and solo exhibitions at Artspace, Fairland, Everard Read, Rose Korber, Bell Roberts, AVA and various arts festivals countrywide.  He is also well known for his work as a political cartoonist and social commentator. Smith’s cartoons and illustrations have been exhibited and published world-wide. Smith has exhibited in group and solo shows in the United States, UK, Germany, Sweden and Greece.

Smith was also the curator of the inaugural Brett Kebble Art Award in 2003.

The exhibition will open on the 5 July 2007 at 12h00 and will run until 26 July  2008.

Artspace is open from 10h00-17h30 Tuesday – Friday, 10h00- 15h30 on Saturdays.
www.artspace-jhb.co.za
 
ENDS.
For more information and images contact

Taryn Cohn
Media Liaison for Artspace Gallery
083 6715139
taryncohn@artsourcesouthafrica.co.za