Jawsh Smyth
I construct vibrant, pop-surreal depictions of introspection through a recurring alter ego, called Melting Man, to navigate and address contemporary issues related to global warming, mental health, and digital overload. With this existential, abstract avatar as a focal point, I render scenes and portraits that explore a physical reality growing more unstable, and a virtual landscape that is both alluring and alienating. Polymorphic, and comprised of amorphous blobs, Melting Man has various states of being, both conceptually and in the mediums I work with, which can range from acrylic paints to eco-friendly materials such as ink, paper, wax, wood and cotton. My art is a quest to unlock creative potential, overcome self doubt, and transform dread and stress into an alchemy of colorful meditations for an uncertain future.
Walkabout (Land of Lunacy), Acrylic on wood panel, 16" x 16" x 1," 2023
