Richard Templeton Smith has a solo exhibition at Ebony/Curated Cape Town, titled INCOGNITO, but on the Sanlam Arts Round Up he exposes himself and his artwork very convincingly!
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Who is the man with an exhibition entitled Incognito? Â Richard says that although his full name is Richard Templeton Smith, his father always called him Richard Smith. Marc Stanes, owner of Ebony/Curated suggested he add back the Templeton, so that he’s not confused with the Anglo-American pop artist Richard Smith.
The title Incognito refers to his painting titled ‘Incognito with Artifacts’.
Incognito (with Artifacts)
Richard explains that nothing is planned. He starts by painting with big house brushes, turps and lots of colour splashed onto large canvases lying on the floor. He then starts to see things. A figure appears and the face looks like it is covered by a scarf. It becomes the figure in a a hat, with a scarf wrapped around its face, with glasses – the reason he called it Incognito.
He enjoys abstraction, adding that Picasso said there is no such thing as abstraction – you can go up to a painting and touch it. He starts with abstraction but always sees figures appearing. Richard refers to a book ‘Leonardo’s Rules of Painting’ where Leonardo is quoted as saying that when one looks at rocks or dirty walls or stains you can see thins – figures, battles, landscapes… And that is what he does – “paint speaks to me”.
From abstraction he moves into finding who the figure is and how it belongs in that landscape. ‘Hombre de la Compañia’ (Company Man) below might be seeing things the wrong way around!
‘Hombre de la Compañia’ (Company Man)
Richard Templeton Smith is currently living in Spain, where he will be returning soon. But after his INCOGNITO exhibition at Ebony/Curated Cape Town, he will not be very present. See the exhibition and you’ll know why!
WHAT: Richard Templeton Smith – Incognito
WHERE: EBONY/CURATED, 67 Loop St, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: closes 26 April 2025
INFO: T 021 4249985 | E jade@ebonycurated.com | VISIT | See also Richard Templeton Smith – Incognito – Ebony/Curated Cape Town
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