March 28 - April 19, 2025
Group show
Curated by Eugene Huston
“It makes me uncomfortable to talk about meanings and things. It’s better not to know so much about what things mean.
I don’t think that people accept the fact that life doesn’t make sense. I think it makes people terribly uncomfortable. Absurdity is what I like most in life. I learned that just beneath the surface there’s another world, and still different worlds as you dig deeper.
I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are always red ants underneath.”
David Lynch
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front gallery
Installation view - front through to back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Installation view - back gallery
Jonathan Smart Gallery is delighted to present In Spite of Meaning, a group exhibition curated by Eugene Huston. The works selected showcase a diverse range of media, including video, 3D animation, photography, sculpture and painting. Featured artists include guests Hye Rim Lee and Jae Hoon Lee, alongside Rob Hood, Sanjay Theodore, Marie Le Lievre, Richard Reddaway, Steve Carr and Mark Braunias.
The 'Selected works' (below the curator's statement) includes images of video stills, photography, digital prints, sculptural works and painting. Titles and details of all the exhibited works can be found in the 'Details of works' section at the bottom of the web page.
Curator’s Statement
The notion of the "impossible meaningless of nature" invites a profound contemplation of the natural world and our attempts to ascribe meaning to it. At first glance, nature appears to be a tapestry of intricate ecosystems, vibrant life forms, and breathtaking landscapes, each teeming with complexity and beauty. Yet, beneath this surface lies an inherent indifference; nature operates according to its own laws, unencumbered by human notions of purpose or significance. The cyclical patterns of life and death, growth and decay, unfold with an almost engineered precision, suggesting a realm where meaning is not a guiding principle, but rather a human construct imposed on the chaotic reality of existence.
This paradox presents a unique philosophical dilemma. While humans strive to find meaning in natural phenomena—be it through spirituality, science, or art—nature itself remains devoid of intention. The serene beauty of a sunset or the violent ferocity of a lightning storm at sea occurs without regard for human interpretation. This realization can evoke a sense of existential angst, as individuals grapple with the understanding that their search for meaning may be inherently futile. Yet, this very futility can also be liberating. It allows for a perspective that embraces the wonder of existence without the weight of imposed significance. In recognizing the "impossible meaningless" of nature, we may find ourselves more attuned to the raw beauty of the world around us, appreciating it for what it is rather than what we wish it to signify.
At its core, "the impossible meaninglessness of nature" encapsulates a profound and often uncomfortable exploration of existence. It challenges us to confront the tension between our desire for meaning and the reality of nature's indifference, ultimately inviting a deeper reflection on our place within the universe.
Eugene Huston
Hye Rim Lee
Marie Le Lievre
Steve Carr
Jae Hoon Lee
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Richard Reddaway
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Rob Hood
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Sanjay Theodore
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Mark Braunias
2024
inkjet print on Hahnemühle photo rag, ed 2/5, 2APs
1140 x 1140mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2008 - 2025
3’ 17” loop, 4K 3D animation
ed 1/7, 2APs
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2022
C print on photographic paper, ed 1/5, 2APs
1200 x 652mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2022
C print on photographic paper, ed 1/5, 2APs
1200 x 652mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2020
chromira print on matt photographic paper, ed 2/3
2600 x 1180mm unframed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2020
inkjet print on photo rag, ed 1/3
1830 x 1250mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2017
chromira print, ed of 3
960 x 1650mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2022
4 min 10 sec single channel digital video with sound
ed 2/3
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2019
oil & graphite on canvas
1150 x 1150mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2017
enamel paint on epoxy resin, fibreglass, & found objects
800 x 520 x 500mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2017
enamel paint on epoxy resin, fibreglass, & audio components
1000 x 900 x 180mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2009
4 min 54 sec single channel digital video
ed 3/3, 2APs
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2010
LED print, ed of 3
720 x 720mm framed (image size 490 x 490mm)
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2007
woodcut on paper, 10 of 10
430 x 330mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2007
woodcut on paper, ed of 10
430 x 330mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2007
woodcut on paper, ed of 10
430 x 330mm framed
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2016
painted wood, made with the assistance of Richard Gardiner
1220mm diameter
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2025
oil & acrylic on board
255 x 200 x 43mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2025
oil & acrylic on board
255 x 200 x 43mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2025
oil & acrylic on board
255 x 200 x 43mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning
2024
acrylic on unstretched canvas
2100 x 1300mm
Exhibited in
In Spite of Meaning