John Smith: Being John Smith — A Film Exhibition Exploring Identity and Art at Secession

This exhibition showcases 'Being John Smith,' the latest film by British artist John Smith, exploring themes of identity, ordinariness, and the meaning of art and life through an autobiographical lens. The exhibition delves into Smith's career, from early struggles to his current status as an avant-garde filmmaker, utilizing humor and honesty.

The exhibition 'John Smith' presents 'Being John Smith' (2024), the most recent film by British artist John Smith, who is known for focusing on the unspectacular. The work uses the generic English name 'John Smith' as a starting point to explore what it means to be ordinary or invisible in a neoliberal society. Smith's films, situated at the intersection of conceptual art, structural film, and documentary, delve into his own life and immediate surroundings. 'Being John Smith' weaves together the artist's life story, from academic setbacks to becoming an avant-garde filmmaker, and touches upon his cancer treatment and reflections on global politics. The film employs a blend of image, voice, and text for an autobiographical reflection, balancing weighty themes with humor. Recurring visual motifs include covered buildings in Hackney, symbolizing gentrification, and personal objects like his father's paint-stirring stick, revealing layers of personal history akin to tree rings. The exhibition also features other films by Smith, such as 'Dad's Stick' (2012), an homage to his father, and 'The Black Tower' (1985–1987), which oscillates between narrative and abstraction, exploring the psychological connection between narrator and viewer. Smith's practice evolved from appearing in his own films to foregrounding autobiographical details, creating a complex tapestry of personal iconography that includes photographs, objects, and recreated scenes, inviting viewers to decipher layered meanings through references, reflections, and scale shifts. The exhibition highlights Smith's interest in challenging cinematic illusionism and blurring boundaries between the personal and political, often utilizing disruptions in sound and image, and particularly the power of text presented as on-screen titles to convey emotional content.

Information on tickets and opening hours for visiting the Secession is available. A special screening of John Smith's films is scheduled in cooperation with the Austrian Film Museum. Visitors are directed to an external ticketing service for purchases in general, and specific event tickets for the film program may be available separately or as part of museum entry depending on the event details presented on site or via the provided links. The Secession is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and tickets can be purchased via the provided link. "heute geöffnet" indicates it is open today, and specific hours are listed as di-so / 10-18 uhr (Tuesday-Sunday / 10 AM-6 PM). There is also a link for 'Informationen & Tickets'. While general museum admission might apply, the page doesn't specify separate exhibition ticket prices, suggesting it might be included with museum entry or require a specific ticket for special events like screenings. The primary ticket link leads to eventjet.at/secession, implying a booking system is in place, but precise costs are not detailed here directly within the exhibition context. The information about the special screening mentions it is 'in Verbindung mit seiner Einzelausstellung', suggesting it is related to the exhibition but may have its own ticketing or admission policy. Visitors can access general information and tickets via the 'Informationen & Tickets' section of the website. The provided ticket link leads to eventjet.at/secession. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. A special film program is being held in cooperation with the Austrian Film Museum. Details for general admission and specific event tickets are not explicitly stated on this exhibition page but can be found via the linked resources.