Image: Martin Smith
Current Status
Lives and works in the UK.
Born Hannover, Germany, 1972.
Nationality British
Educated Herefordshire College of Art, 1991 - 1993
Dewsbury College of Art, 1990 - 1991
Statement

Martin's research and work are concerned with people's perception and interpretation of space. He undertakes quite large architectural commissions that interact with their given space and the viewer through movement.  Alongside this work his practice is also concerned with making kinetic architectural maquettes that slowly investigate themes of repetition, precision and rules. These utopian objects and spaces that are seemingly impossible to implement are what currently drive his work forward.
Martin is also the Co-Founder and Art Director of the design label, Laikingland. The work he creates through this company plays with the themes of humour, nonsense and futility.
Commissions, Competitions and Public Works
2022 The Harley Art Trail, The Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire, UK.
2021 The Cashless Cache Machine (Spend A Penny), Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds, UK.
2019

Applause Chandelier, Battersea Arts Centre, London, UK.
2018 Kinetic Arbortum, The Royal Horticultural Society. RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, RHS Hampton Court Flower Show and RHS Tatton Park.
2017 Zoar Trees, external sculpture commission for the Canalfon Soar, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, UK.
2016 Marvellous Mechanica presented by Hole & Corner Magazine, a site specific kinetic installation in the Chapel of the House of St Barnabas, London.
2014 Rainbow, kinetic sculpture for the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
2013 Machines in the Trees, The Zygote Festival, Arts NK, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, UK.
2013 A.W.E. (Automated Winding Engine). Kinetic robot for the MB&F MAD Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland.
2013 Tweet Clock. Mechanical Alarm Clock for Kikkerland, USA.
2012

'Hoo-ray and up she rises'. Kinetic window commissioned by Opera North for Overworlds and Underworlds, a Cultural Olympiad project in Leeds, UK. The Artistic Directors of Overworlds and Underworlds are the artists and filmmakers The Quay Brothers.
2012 Kinetic Tricycle and Kinetic Sun. Collaboration with Freedom Studios for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford on Avon, UK.
2011 The Heart Machine for Laikingland.
2010 The Party Popper Machine for Laikingland.
2009 Flintham Weather Station, Flintham Museum, Nottinghamshire, UK. A Museumaker Project.
2008 Applause Machine for Laikingland.
2007
Bird Wave. Mansfield Museum, UK.
2006
Concentric Wave. The Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire, UK.
2006 Pennies From Heaven. Weston Park Museum, Sheffield, UK.
2005 One Planet, The Alternative Technology Centre, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK.
2005 Clockwork Automata. San Francisco, USA.
2004
Kelvin's Universe. The Hunterian Museum, Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
2003
Cuckoos' Clockwork. The Museum of Toys and Automata, Arima, Japan.
2003
Mechanical Clock For the entrance to "Salle Des Machines". La Parenthese, Nancy, France.
2002

Pigeon Wave. Clock for Cardiff Central Station, Wales, UK.

2001 The Applause Machine. The Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire, UK.
2001 The Coin Wave. 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, UK.
2000 From Muck to Gold, Basic Needs Pavilion. World Expo, Hannover, Germany.
1999 The Cuckoos' Clock. Collectors Lot, Channel 4 TV. UK.
1999 Royal Pump Rooms, Royal Leamington Spa, UK.
1998 The Town Tricycle. New York, USA.
1998 Schoolgirls Revenge. Doncaster Community Arts, UK.
1997 The Jester. Palace Vaults, Stirling Castle, Scotland, UK.
 
Selected Group Exhibitions * indicates the exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue.
2020 Little Machines, Ruthin Craft Centre, Wales.
2019 Artwork, Objects & Curiosities, Paul Smith, Albemarle Street, London, UK.*
2019 Little Machines, The Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire, UK.
2017-2018 Marvellous Mechanicals, Art Unpacked touring exhibition, UK.
2016-2018 A Curious Turn, Crafts Council touring exhibition, UK.
2015 Dystopian Futures, Gallery II, University of Bradford, UK.*
2013 In A.W.E., MB&F MAD Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland.
2013 2.0 Exhibition by Rossana Orlandi at the Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, Milan, Italy.
2012 A Spatial Surprise. MInt, Alexanader Square, London, UK.
2012 InterPlay: Mechanical Objects, Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
2012 'With Movement', Laikingland, Ventura Lambrate, Salone de Mobile, Milano, Italy.
2011 Object Abuse, KK Outlet, Hoxton Square, London, UK.
2011 FUNction, Laikingland, Ventura Lambrate, Salone de Mobile, Milano, Italy.
2010 Handcrafted in Britain, The Conran Shop, Michelin House, Chelsea, London, UK.
2010 Laikingland Showcase,The KK Outlet , Hoxton Square, London, UK.
2010 Applause Machine window, Colette, Paris, France.
2010 The CultureLabel Pop-up Store, LDA Pavillion, World Expo, Shanghai, China.
2010 Creative Collaborations, Laikingland, Ventura Lambrate, Salone de Mobile, Milano, Italy.
2010 Kinetica Art Fair, P3, London, UK.*
2009 Laikingland, 100% Design, Earls Court, London, UK.*
2009 Kinetica Art Fair, P3, London, UK.*
2008 Flipside Gallery, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
2007 Cabaret Mechanical Theatre at the Kinetica Gallery, London, UK. *
A Piece of the Action, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset, UK.
2006
20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, UK.
2005
Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, The Gallery at OXO Tower Wharf, London, UK.
Full Fathom Five. Six Chapel Row and Hitchcocks', Bath, UK.
2004
A Cabaret Mechanical Christmas. The Gallery at OXO Tower Wharf, London, UK.
Jeux d'automates. Musée des Automates, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, France.
2003
Cabaret Mechanical Festival. The Gallery at OXO Tower Wharf, London, UK.
Levantehaus, Hamburg, Germany.
Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. The royal Pump Rooms, Royal Leamington Spa, UK.
Rufford Craft Centre, Nottinghamshire, UK.
2002
Out of the box, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, London, UK.
The Rude exhibition, Hitchcocks', Bath, UK.
2001
in-art-iculate, art.tm, Inverness, Scotland. Then toured throughout 2002. *
Ark, Hitchcocks', Bath, UK. *
Up and Running, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, UK.
2000
Tick-Tock 2000, The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK. (tour).
The Silent scene; the cultural script in the frame, The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, UK. *
1999
A Moving Experience, Oxford Gallery, UK.
1998

Kunstlerisches Spielzeus, Munich, Germany.
Art on the Move, Wysing Arts, Cambridge, UK.
The Collins Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland.
1996
The Grosvenor Museum, Chester, UK. *
Rufford Craft Centre, Nottinghamshire, UK.
1995
Museum of Automata, York, UK.
1994
Cogs, Cams, Springs and Things, The Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, UK. *
 
Other Activities
2013-2016 External Examiner, International Foundation, University of Leeds, UK.
2013 Guest Lecturer, Design Products, Royal College of Art, London, UK.
2013 Guest Lecturer, BA Hons Surface Pattern Design/Textile Surfaces, Staffordshire University, UK.
2012 Guest Lecturer, Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
2011 Guest Lecturer, BA Hons Product Design and Engineering, Middlesex University, London, UK.
2008 Co-founder of Laikingland, a product design practice that develops and manufactures mechanical objects and devices.
2005-2012
Associate Lecturer, Leeds College of Art, UK.
2006-2008
Workshop leader, Learning Journeys, NESTA and Bradford Industrial Museum, UK.
2005
Co-founder of Radiant Works, a non-commercial visual arts resource in Huddersfield, UK.
1999 Mechanical sets and puppets for Faulty Optic Theatre of Animation's production, Tunnelvision.
1997 Mechanical sets and puppets for Faulty Optic Theatre of Animation's production, Shot at the Troff.
1994
Guest Lecturer, BA Hons Design Crafts, Herefordshire College of Art and Design, UK.
 
Work available from:
The M.A.D. Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland.
The M.A.D. Gallery, Dubai, UAE.
The M.A.D. Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Milan, Italy.
Mint, London, United Kingdom.
The Frozen Fountain, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Lane Crawford, Hong Kong, China.
 
 

 

Copyright © Martin Smith 2022, all rights reserved.