BOX SOLO
Gijs van Lith
The Schmear Paintings represent Van Lith's latest series, a rekindling of his passion for color, play, and the sheer act of painting, which he affectionately refers to as 'schmearing.'
Within these works, his bold red gestures encapsulate the fluidity of his hand and arm movements, offering him a canvas of freedom while simultaneously serving as protective barriers. These formal visual elements act as stepping stones, thresholds, and gateways that transcend mere mark-making and motion.
Van Lith's creative process is marked by intensity, energy, and a profound reliance on intuition. His new, vibrant paintings oscillate between softly exploding gestures and meticulously layered compositions. These canvases possess a paradoxical quality, resembling both flesh and muscle, while exuding an aura of satisfaction and contentment rather than frenetic energy.
Some pieces subtly evolve through thin layers from the background, gradually building up with multiple layers of meticulously applied and removed oil paint.
In these artworks, layers are created, altered, and destroyed, giving rise to a captivating interplay of gestures and colors that define the surface.
