ARTISTINTHEWORLD/André Smits
Bath-LA-Room

Thursday May 2nd, 4-8pm (Popup reception)

ARTISTINTHEWORLD is a journey through the art world with the aim of connecting artists and art professionals in an infinite photo archive. Embracing this world with a broad gesture, a careful tribute from amazement at all the beauty and exuberance along the way. An important part of this series is the concept of the romantic Rückenfigur, everyone always has their back to the camera. In this way, the photos provide an intimate glimpse into the studios. The photographed characters act as guides and invite the spectators into their world. It is also a moment of contemplation.

With this upcoming popup show of his ARTISTINTHE WORLD series here in LA at Keystone Art Space, he will mark his third visit to Los Angeles with a series of over 100 photographs. This exhibition will include two Bath Room murals that serves as a map of all the connections he has made, filled with names and arrows, and how people he met are connected, who introduced him to whom, and an exhibition with the photos.

André Smits is a photographer and painter based in Goes (NL). He started ARTISTINTHEWORLD in 2008. The series now has around 6300 photos. In the beginning he made a lot of work in the Netherlands, but in recent years other destinations have been added such as New York, Tehran, East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Beijing, Sydney, Taipei, Naples, Beirut, Berlin, Antwerp, Dresden, Paris, Los Angeles, Kiev, Tbilisi, Casablanca and London.

First came his photographs, then drawings, then murals, and now he has added in another component to his work, of creating exhibitions in different areas. They work a like social sculptures. It is beautiful to do a mural with all the names and invite the artists. It is always amazing how people connect, and how great that is.