AMELIA SMITH

My work is focused on education, this is education of the masses through art and expressionism. I like to challenge the idea of the gallery - I don’t want to fit the mould that all white walled galleries want to see. Within my work the most important part is to get something from it. Not just creating but looking at the artist as a facilitator who creates opportunities for others. Taking someone on a complete journey and helping them to notice new things as well as a new way of thinking Is what I find the most rewarding part of being a creative thinker. This is where my interest in instructional art comes from. Allowing the viewers to feel like creatives while you have orchestrated for that moment to happen.  This is all led through the idea of the artist being absent to the work - how you demonstrate the participation as well as understanding of what is wanted. This is a relationship between artist and viewer that takes place through the work.  The work can be translated into archival work - showing the collection of information on people and places. This means that the work can be added to and adapted by whoever and wherever. The work becomes an archive itself as well as the documentation process. 

My work has become much more focused and I have Reinvented a system to make new work that works and makes sense for me - creating a clear ‘pin point’ for the start of exploration and always returning to that singular idea in different circumstances. This shift took a while to notice but I think lockdown has assisted in recognising this - this has been a huge and important jump for me personally.  Painting and small works that could hang on the wall used to be my default outcome for work - I felt comfortable when producing them. Learning to understand not to force a language onto a piece of work - if it doesn’t feel right invariably it’s not right.  I have worked out that I love challenging the use of the studio and the gallery as an artist. Focusing on the artist as a facilitator rather than a creator gives me much greater joy and satisfaction. Facilitating an opportunity for others to experience the fulfilment of creating. This all comes from creating a language between the artist and participant to create a health encouragement of involvement and emphasising the education through creativity and not making the art world intimidating .

https://afsmith.cargo.site