pencil, pastel and venial on reflective fabricDES BAINS
Description
Human-crafted. AI-refined.
"Close my eyes and imagine movement" by Lara Smithson features a muted color palette, with a predominantly grey background punctuated by the figure's vibrant blue attire and intricate golden braids. The composition centers on a portrait surrounded by celestial motifs and brain-like imagery, creating a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere. Utilizing textiles, the work combines classical portraiture elements with modern symbolism. This piece reflects Smithson's exploration of imagination and movement, possibly influenced by her background in both film and visual art during her tenure as a resident fellow in Rome and Oxford. ...
Lara Smithson lives and works in London and is currently a live/work resident at ACME Fire Station. She was the Bridget Riley Fellow 2021/22 at The British School at Rome and St John’s College, Oxford’s Artist in Residence, 2023. Smithson’s work has been shown internationally, including solo exhibitions at Coleman Projects, London 2023; Una Vetrina, Rome 2022 and The Why Not Gallery, Tblisi 2018. On graduating from The Slade School of Art in 2015 she was awarded the Claire Winsten Memorial Award and the Dolbey Travel Grant. In 2017 she was commissioned to make a short film by Channel Four and the ICA for ‘Stop Play Record.’ Smithson was also included in the Official Selection WomenCineMakers Biennial Edition, 2018 and was part of The Towner International at The Towner, Eastbourne in 2022. ...
DES BAINS is a contemporary art gallery based in London, founded by Maria Valeria Biondo and Elisa Rossetto. The gallery collaborates closely with artists, theorists, and writers whose work explores the intersection of personal and collective experiences within today’s complex social and political landscapes. Rooted in a collaborative research methodology, DES BAINS focuses on themes such as psychogeography, the politics of human movement, borders, land, and belonging. The gallery is dedicated to promoting emerging and underrepresented artists, fostering critical discourse and expanding contemporary art ecologies.
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