After enduring many decades of embarrassment and discomfort, the filmmaker finally admits that possessing the most common name in the English-speaking world has had a profound impact on his sense of self.
John Smith (born London,1952) studied at North-East London Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art. 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. Often rooted in everyday life and personal experience, Smith’s films playfully explore and expose the language of cinema, subverting the perceived boundaries between documentary and fiction.
John Smith has made over 60 film, video and installation works that have been shown in independent cinemas and art galleries around the world and awarded major prizes at many international film festivals. He has presented retrospectives of his films at festivals in 16 countries. He received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists in 2011, and in 2013 he was the winner of the UK’s Jarman Award. His work is in the collections of Tate Gallery, Arts Council England, MoMA New York, FRAC Île de France, Paris; Kunstmuseum Magdeburg and Muzeum Sztuki, Lodz.
