Thew Smoak: Late Summer

LATITUDE Gallery is pleased to present Thew Smoak's solo exhibition, "Late Summer." Smoak has created a new body of figurative work that evokes poetic melancholy through his monochromatic shadowy palette, ghostly figures, and dark, empty spaces. Drawing inspiration from Yasujiro Ozu’s artistic films and their extended moments of stillness, which grant audiences ample time to contemplate pathos in the ordinary, Smoak initiated "Late Summer" with ideas centered around reflection. This thematic thread is apparent in each piece of the show, ranging from literal mirrors reflecting figures, silver leaf surfaces reflecting viewers, and paintings capturing their own reflections.

More so, ideas on reflection often take on a more abstract and spatial role. To Smoak, mirrors represent empty thresholds symbolizing ghostly presence. The reflection captures a transient moment, constantly changing by time or memory, a notion depicted with atmospheric haze. This newfound atmosphere introduces an element of ambiguity, allowing the paintings to explore questions of presence, impermanence, time, and spectral space. Smoak’s paintings teach us the importance of sitting with and discovering contemplative moments within shadows and stillness.