A solo exhibition will be held by Thai artist Aof Smith, who creates a strange world in which disparate elements—such as lovable characters, artificial objects and waste, and themes with humor and irony—blend seamlessly. The exhibition features 15 new oil paintings to explore the “distortion” that is usually overlooked as “normal”, but captures the public attention when unexpectedly brought to the surface of society.

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MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY is pleased to present Aof Smith’s solo exhibition, “NORMALIZED DISTORTION”. Smith completed his Master of Fine Arts Program in Visual Arts, KMITL, Thailand in 2013 and has been based in Bangkok ever since. He has become an artist at the forefront of the Thai art scene with his remarkable expression and originality. Since his postgraduate studies, Smith has actively exhibited his work in group exhibitions across Thailand, the United States, China and Singapore, gaining international recognition. Altering painting materials, his 2017 solo exhibition “SILENT RAVAGE” (SAC Gallery, Bangkok) enhanced visual impact and attracted significant attention. He held his first solo exhibition in the United States, “Irrepressible Summer Melody”, at Thinkspace Projects (Los Angeles, California) in 2022, followed by his first solo exhibition in Japan, “HERITAGE”, at MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY in 2023.

 

Smith creates a strange world in which disparate elements—such as lovable characters, artificial objects and waste, and themes with humor and irony—blend seamlessly, using fantasy to reveal the contradictions and fragility of society. During his university years, he studied the color theory and composition of Pop Art, as well as the superficiality noted in Pop Surrealism, the underground art movement that emerged on the American West Coast in the late 1970s. The sweets, Smith used as motifs during his Master’s program, symbolized poison that tempts innocent children with their harmless appearance, and became the cornerstone of his artistic style which continues today. Since then, Smith has introduced characters that represent human legacy such as “Furry”, a creature resembling a cross between a bulldog and a rabbit. He cites the influence of Ron English, a master of Pop Surrealism, in his use of contrasting motifs, color schemes and satire. Furthermore, being familiar with Japanese subculture such as anime and manga, Smith incorporates character designs and facial expressions from these sources into his own work.

 

This exhibition presents 15 new oil paintings to explore the “distortion” that is usually overlooked as “normal”, but capture the public attention when unexpectedly brought to the surface of society. We invite you to the solo exhibition of Aof Smith, who challenges the current era.

 

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This exploration reflects on the hidden distortions embedded within the human psyche through behaviors and actions that have gradually become normalized by social structures. Individuals often exist beneath socially accepted identities while concealing pressure, fragility, and darker impulses within themselves, as if two opposing selves coexist at once.

 

When individuals are surrounded by others who share similar mentalities, desires, or instincts, suppressed emotions begin to surface. Certain behaviors are then expressed outwardly and accepted as ordinary, despite being rooted in prejudice, emotional violence, or psychological imbalance. Over time, these conditions become woven into the fabric of daily existence, quietly sustained through repetition and rarely questioned.

 

Ultimately, these reflections may not merely reflect distortions embedded within society but instead redirect the inquiry back onto ourselves: should these conditions be accepted as an inevitable part of human existence, or has what we perceive as “deviation” been within us from the very beginning?

—Aof Smith​

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