Peter Smets

Peter Smets was born in 1962 in Koningslust, The Netherlands. He has been exhibiting in Australia for the past 30 years. Smets has been a finalist in several important art prizes including The Wynne Prize, AGNSW, 2009; The Sulman Prize, AGNSW, 2009; Prometheus Visual Art Award, Gold Coast, 2009 & 2007; Tattersall's Club Landscape Prize, Brisbane, 2008, 2007, 2005 & 2004; Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, 2006 and the Conrad Jupiter Art Award, 2004 & 2003.

Peter Smets' work is part of high profile public, corporate and private collections including Ministerie van LNV, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Gemeente Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands; S. Hausen Collection, Dresden, Germany; R. Ubach Collection, Switzerland; P. Anderson Collection, London, England; M.P. Thomas Collection, California, USA; Cristina Madrazo Collection, Mexico; Nanao-shi Ishikawa, Osaka, Japan; Zurich Insurance, Sydney; David Dabscheck, New York, USA; Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Queensland; Tweed River Art Gallery, NSW and many private collections throughout Australia.

Peter Smets' work operates as both narrative and strategy. A regular visitor to various in city building sites, Smets is in the habit of "scanning the general activity to see what catches the eye." Back in the studio he meticulously reconstructs his source material to create works of astounding realism. The powerful impact of the final images owes as much to his profound understanding of formal composition as to his 'in field' sketches and photographs.

Intriguing juxtapositions between the natural and the man-made give 'edge' with surreal undertones. The pictures are essentially still and a curious serenity prevails. They may well be about the activity of building, but all work has halted. The tiny figures of the workmen appear nonchalant - at ease with their surroundings. A mixture of indifference and acceptance, their casual poses defy the harsh immensity of the machines and constructions within the urban environments which envelope them.