Artists Hayden and Johnathan Smith are about to embark on a new chapter in their lives, not only as artists, but as father and son, when they showcase their joint art show Elementary: A Father Son Exhibition at the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ASTT) from tomorrow.
Elementary is a play on words; a paradox of purpose; a building block. The exhibition of contemporary realism showcases the realist paintings of these two emerging artists, whose differing approaches make for some interesting contrasts.
Dad Hayden sees the world from a more puritanical position, where the beauty that surrounds life cannot be found in the extravagant and the exaggerated, but rather, in the simplest and purest forms of ordinary objects.
His paintings pay attention to the details of simple objects, often humble, overlooked items. His paintings can evolve from plain and mundane to stunningly realistic and almost photographic. Hayden's main studies are usually of nature, architecture and still life.
His son, Johnathan Smith, prefers to paint the world as a dreamer who "creates his own perfect reality, evoking an untainted sense of the idealist romantic in all of us," according to a release from the artists.
Johnathan often includes elements that are slightly out of place in his paintings, to help evoke different moods. He may incorporate his aesthetic interpretations of local culture and terrain into the art.
Currently, he says his work tries to highlight the importance of conservation, and its lack in T&T, both culturally and environmentally.
This is the first exhibition by the father-son duo, as Johnathan gets set to leave T&T to pursue studies.
The opening reception is tomorrow night, from 7.30 pm to 10 pm. The exhibition will run from July 18-26 from 11 am to 6 pm daily at The Art Society of T&T, corner Jamaica Boulevard and St Vincent Avenue, Federation Park, Port-of-Spain.