Love it or hate it; For many, there is little in between when it comes to the outspoken sculptural works of artist Iwan Smit (Rotterdam, 1989). The young Rotterdammer studied illustration and fine art at the Willem de Kooning Academy in his city but soon discovered that the three-dimensionality he wanted to express in his paintings became much better in spatial objects.
His work navigates between heavy themes and a certain playfulness and light-heartedness, resulting in cheerful, colourful paintings and objects with a slight but perceptible dark edge. He does not only make these for art institutions with a capital A; his signature style also regularly crops up in the retail, product and design corner. From menus to murals, if Smit feels comfortable with something, he takes on the assignment.
Smit's work can be found in the collection of Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, that of the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management and the company collection of De Correspondent. At HIM, one of Smit's creeping tigers watches over the main entrance on Goudsesingel. It is one of the symbols and mythological creatures that form a recurring theme in his recognizable imagery.
For more information about the artist, visit his website: www.iwansmit.com or listen to the HIM Podcast below with Iwan Smit and Dore van Duivenbode.