Parlance: Nick Smith

Employing Smith’s signature ‘colour-chip’ methodology, Parlance reinterprets existing images of celebrities and iconic pop culture figures, giving them new life and meaning.

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Parlance consists of 40 original artworks, each piece new and exclusive to the show. Within this body of work are 20 iconic magazine-based pieces, whereby the publication acts as the canvas and the cover personality is the subject. Original cover text has been pixelated by Smith’s colour-chips and annotated with excerpts from the interview within the publication.

While previous works by Smith have all been larger in size, the artist’s new methodology allows for increased detail on a smaller scale. The new works range in size from H27 x W20cm up to H110 x W100cm.

In a move away from purely square or rectangular works, Smith has also introduced new shapes, creating 12 circular tondo pieces. These include a pair of Frida Kahlo portraits inspired by Frida’s posthumous appearance on the cover of Vogue Mexico’s November 2012 issue. The text embedded within the artworks is made up of excerpts taken from Frida’s love letters to her lover, Diego Rivera.

“I have to be excited and engaged with the images I’m working with, in order for them to be accessible through my work. I don’t think this particular combination of people will ever have been displayed together, outside of a newsagent. It’s a bit like that classic question, ‘Who would you invite to the ultimate dinner party?’” Nick Smith