Jeffrey Smart

Smart was deeply concerned with abstraction, geometry and colour in his work. You can see this in Art gallery in shopping arcade, in particular in the contrast between vibrant colour and shadows, the layering of rectangular shapes and his careful construction of perspective.

Looking at this painting, what do you see? Count how many rectangles you can find in the painting.

Can you see the painting in this painting? What is the subject of that work?

Listen to the sound work by Martin Kay. Can you describe three sounds you hear? Do any of these sounds belong in the scene in the painting?

Looking at Smart’s painting, what other sounds do you think might belong in Art gallery in shopping arcade? Can you make any of these sounds using your body or objects found around you?

Now, with a sheet of paper and a pastel or crayon, listen to Martin Kay’s sound recording and mark on the paper the lines and shapes that come to mind as you listen. Enjoy the feeling of making marks inspired by these sounds. You could even close your eyes while you do it.