Innovative Curatorial Projects – Paris / SingaporeJohn Smith
*1952, Walthamstow, UK. Lives and works in London, UK.
Over the past three decades John Smith has developed a body of work which deftly subverts the perceived boundaries between truth and fiction, representation and abstraction. Drawing on the raw material of everyday life, Smith's meticulously crafted films rework and transform reality, playfully exploring and exposing the power of cinematic language. Smith's film, video and installation works have been shown in cinemas, art galleries and on television throughout the world and have been awarded major prizes at film festivals in Leipzig, Oberhausen, Hamburg, Cork, Geneva, Palermo, Graz, Uppsala, Bangkok, Ann Arbor and Chicago.
Exhibitions include solo shows at Pearl Gallery (London), Open Eye Gallery (Liverpool), Kunstmuseum Magdeburg and retrospectives at Oberhausen, Cork, Tampere, Uppsala and Winterthur international film festivals.
Worst cast scenario / United Kingdom / 2003 / 18'30 / 4:3
John Smith’s film, a montage in black and white, takes place in Vienna. From his upper floor hotel room overlooking a crosswalk, the artist takes his photos then invents funny rhythmic situations.