Elizabeth Leach Gallery is pleased to present Phalanxes featuring graphic textile wall works by Mark. R. Smith from October 1 - November 28, 2020.
Mark R. Smith's new intricately collaged paintings convey contemporary and historical narratives through an abstract visual language. Dome, diamond, circle and starburst shapes emerge from linear woven strips that were cut, mitered, and reconfigured into interlocking patterns that transmit an exquisite, symbiotic beauty.
Inspired by writings on utopian societies proposed by French philosopher Charles Fourier (1772-1837), Smith investigates symmetry and "the promise of ecstatic visual harmony." The artist became particularly interested in Fourier's plans for mirrored housing structures known as phalansteries, an idealized living space where members could pursue individual passions and share resources while enjoying gender and social equality. Smith builds imagery around these concepts in the new works, building on his signature striped vocabulary to create vividly colored geometries from textiles and recycled clothing.
A large scale series included in the exhibition incorporates zippers to split the image to allude to physical cohesion and division. Dynamic, vibrant lines are stacked and clustered, each side of the picture plane suggesting a mirror image while the artist's subtle alterations keep the viewer's eye continually activated while deciphering differences inside complementary shaped constructions. Smith's latest body of works exemplifies his ongoing interest in communicating narratives through the redolent power of materiality.
