John Smith studied at North-East London Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art, after which he became an active member of the London Filmmakers’ Co-op. Inspired in his formative years by conceptual art and structural film, he also became fascinated by the immersive power of narrative and the spoken word, forming the foundation for the diverse body of work that he has developed over the past five decades.
Being John Smith
HD Video, 27 Min., English with english subtitles, 2024
The film starts on every hour and half hour
In Being John Smith the artist reflects on the burden and irony of having one of the most generic names in the English language. Using his trademark wit, Smith traces the origins of his name and how his feelings toward it have evolved. The film blends personal photos, found images, and internet-sourced material to weave together the intimate and the impersonal. Although autobiographical, Smith emphasizes that the work is not self-centered but broadly relatable. Through his reflections on family, self-doubt, and the state of the world, the film ultimately offers a portrait of the anxieties shared by ordinary people.
Galerie im Körnerpark
27 June – 7 October 2026
Galerie im Körnerpark
Schierker Straße 8
12051 Berlin
With works by Ana María Millán, Anaïs Senli, Ella C Bernard, Kamal Aljafari, Martins Kohout, Nooshin Askari, Xenia Bond, Zuzanna Czebatul
Bärenzwinger
19 February – 10 May 2026
Bärenzwinger
Im Köllnischen Park
10179 Berlin
With Ran Zhang and Lolo & Sosaku
Galerie Im Turm
11 February – 15 March 2026
Galerie im Turm
Frankfurter Tor 1
10243 Berlin
Screening programme with video works by Crystal Z Campbell, Ellinor Aurora Aasgaard & Zayne Armstrong, John Smith, Laura Nitsch, Marta Popivoda.
With a shadow intervention from Anaïs Senli & Eduardo da Conceição.
Kunstraum Bethanien/Kreuzberg
18 October 2025 – 11 January 2026
Kunstraum Bethanien/KreuzbergMariannenplatz 2
10997 Berlin