Thailand is now a country in the international spotlight due to the booming art market, the rise of young artists and the export of youth culture. As the leading Asian artist to absorb Western culture whilst evolving in his own unique way, Aof Smith's reputation is growing and his works are in the collections around the world.

 

Leftovers from past eras that have been handed down to the present day. Sometimes it may start as a residue of violence. A man-made war has ended. On the day that things have no meaning anymore. Traveling through time, objects have no meaning or value. The Furry, dog like creatures with fluffy ears of bunny are having fun and enjoying the discovery of new values in their own sense.

- Aof Smith

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We are pleased to announce Aof Smith’s ‘HERITAGE’, the first solo exhibition in Japan, at MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY. Smith completed his Master of Fine Arts Program in Visual Arts, KMITL, in 2013 and has been based in Bangkok, Thailand ever since. In 2017, he held a solo exhibition ‘SILENT RAVAGE’ at SAC Gallery, Bangkok, where his unique interpretation of American pop surrealism and lowbrow art, heightened new affinity between the themes and expression of his work, and he rose to prominence as an up-and-coming young artist celebrating dreamlike worlds. As group exhibitions, he has vigorously exhibited in Thailand, the US, China, Singapore and otherwise since his postgraduate studies, raising his international profile. His first solo exhibition in the US ‘Irrepressible Summer Melody’ was held at Thinkspace Projects, Los Angeles, California, in 2022.

 

Cartoons, animation, science fiction and mechanisms come together to create playful animals, robots and monsters in computer-graphics-like forms in Smith's work. The stocky characters that emerge from suspiciously hypnotic neon lights of Bangkok night are monsters created by a voracious absorption of visual expression, which has changed rapidly since the 20th century. He has also developed his own painting style, and the sense of colour creates vivid and tasteful visual effects that highlight the characters there.

 

Smith's work, which is characterised by its stimulating visuals, contains messages that attract us. For example, the scenes of pets warning against human behaviour go beyond superficial social criticism, presenting a different way of looking at the world and prompting viewers to reflect. Pure and innocent animals and humans who selectively breed certain species because of their love for them, resulting in the animals' suffering; the contradictions and chaos of modern times, where conscience and guilt are at odds with each other; the cruelty of everyday life that is overlooked by our obsession with fantasy... The creatures that take action against each one of them are depicted in a parallel world of sorrow, patience and humour.

 

In this exhibition, 14 paintings, mainly new, will be on display. Having experienced a whole range of expression, from cave murals to 3D computer graphics, what would we find in his multi-layered works, in which he paints imaginary characters that transcend time and space onto canvas? We hope you expect to see Smith's worlds that strangely intersect with uncertain realities, from the past, the present and into the future.