14/1/2004
Object
Hoxton Distillery, London
Dave Smith / Chris Tosic. brings together recent works by British artists Dave Smith and Chris Tosic. Both artists make representational depictions of objects that explore the visual and cognitive consequences resulting from the production and reception of art today. This exploration has, through a sustained dialogue, often been made together. The critical strategies of these artists' work are built on an equally important foundation of formal rigour and art historical perspicacity.
Dave Smith / Chris Tosic
OBJECT brings together recent works by British artists Dave Smith and Chris Tosic. Both artists make representational depictions of objects that explore the visual and cognitive consequences resulting from the production and reception of art today. This exploration has, through a sustained dialogue, often been made together. The critical strategies of these artists' work are built on an equally important foundation of formal rigour and art historical perspicacity.
Dave Smith presents images of social spaces focusing on common objects familiar to everyone. The two elements of background space and foreground object set up a consistent structure running throughout the work. The background space or everything other than the focal object, which is defined by architecture or social use is reminiscent of a ground or backdrop. The object, which is defined by functionality is reminiscent of a brush mark or the subject. By focusing primarily on the object, the image becomes a representation of human activity, through an apparent absence of the subject itself.
Chris Tosic presents several paintings made from a combination of observational and conceptual information, combining the two processes into a pictorial whole. Colour is played down and as a result the object becomes somehow 'neutered'. The struggle for objectivity turns into a 'Myth of Sisyphus' scenario. The more the form is defined the more it loses its intention, yet Tosic still goes on painting, playing with devices such as sfumato, blending and glazing. Thus deceiving the author and viewer alike.
For Smith and Tosic the 'object' becomes a device to look at both space and material, as well as a device to reflect the world back upon itself. In a vacuum-like situation where art is increasingly disillusioned by a relentless paradox of retrospective re-appropriation, Smith and Tosic's pictures are an attempt to present an image objectively.
Hoxton Distillery is co-ordinated by John Hanson & Richard Paul, with help from Chris Tosic.
Preview: 15 January 7pm
Exhibition: 16 January - 8 February
Opening Hours: Friday - Sunday 2 - 6pm
at the
HOXTON DISTILLERY
ABOVE THE MACBETH 70 HOXTON STREET N1