18/3/2004
Guy Richards Smit
G-module, Paris
Here comes Maxi... Smit combines seemingly incongruant personalities; that of the egomaniacal exhibitionist and the sensitive, contemplative artist. He displays the agony of the corrupt hedonist, in both his dynamic power and his frailty. He is a painter, musician, video artist, performer...
In Here Comes Maxi...
g-module will present the first solo exhibition in France of New York based emerging art star Guy Richards Smit : Painter! Musician! Video Artist! Performer!
Smit combines seemingly incongruant personalities; that of the egomaniacal exhibitionist and the sensitive, contemplative artist. He displays the agony of the corrupt hedonist, in both his dynamic power and his frailty. Smit's watercolors depict awkward moments, power struggles and disapointments. Although depraved, they are masterfully handled in color and style and in the end manage to convey what people share in their being human.
Downstairs the drama continues...Smit's alter ego Maxi Geil's satin sheet bedspread has been transported to g-module's basement. You can lay down and watch the Swiss television music program on which his band Maxi Geil!& PlayColt recently appeared (they are on a seven month tour of europe because Maxi was exiled from the US after unfortunate remarks about the troops). Here you can see three of the bands videos evoking the excitement and sensation surrounding them and the ''cult of personality'' surrounding Maxi - a world where even classical ballet can only find relevance through Maxi Geil! and where the paranoia in the US contributes to Maxi's dark dream in Artist's Lament.
Guy Richards Smit's works have been exhibited most recently at MOMA's MediaScope, La Bienale de Valencia, La Bienale de la Havana, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, Bass Museum of Art, Miami, Aeroplastics, Brussels and Roebling Hall in Brooklyn, New York. Born in Miami, Florida, Michael Rodriguez has exhibited in galleries and non-profit spaces in the United States and Canada. His work first appeared at g-module in the space's inaugural show, Pop Science in 2001. He is recently the recipient of the NYFA Fellow and the Pollack-Krasner Grant. Michael Rodriguez's works can also be seen at the g-module stand at the NADA artfair, Miami Beach, December 4-7, 2003
Hours: 14:00-20:00, Wednesday through Saturday.