Smiley VII – A Smile That Has Remained
| Feature |
Details |
| Work |
Smiley VII |
| Series |
Smear board |
| Year |
2026 |
| Technique |
Oil on canvas |
| Format |
Diameter 70 cm |
| Form |
Round |
| Shipping |
Free of charge, within 3 working days |
| Status |
Original painting |
When the sign grows older
The smiley is one of the most familiar symbols of our time. Its meaning seems unchanging: joy, lightness, approval.
In Smiley VII, this pictogram remains fully recognisable. At the same time, it appears as if it has already been on a long journey. The surface is marked by traces, overlays and fading remnants of colour. The motif does not appear fresh or immaculate, but marked by its own history.
Schmiertafel – The memory of something simple
The series Schmiertafel explores symbols that everyone knows. Flowers, smileys or trees appear at first glance to be clear and stable.
What interests me, however, is the moment when this certainty is lost. The sign remains, while its execution is increasingly marked by mistakes, corrections, and uncertainties.
In Smiley VII, the smiley appears almost like a memory of itself. You recognize it instantly, yet its self-evidence has disappeared.
Between familiarity and transience
The dark eyes and the broad smile hold the symbol together. At the same time, many areas of the picture surface dissolve into fine layers of color, transparent overpainting, and accidental traces.
This creates a peculiar tension: the sign appears familiar and at the same time vulnerable. It still smiles, but no longer with the lightheartedness of its original form.
Round original oil painting
The circular canvas focuses the gaze on the symbol and its transformation. The visible layers of oil paint make the process of creation traceable and lend the work depth and openness.
Smiley VII is a one-of-a-kind original from my studio in Wiesbaden and part of the ongoing series Schmiertafel,.
you can find further inspiration at
round formats and
white paintings
I have been a freelance painter since 1997 and have worked with a wide variety of themes in painting. While until 2007 I was occupied almost exclusively with expressive painting, today my focus lies more on experimental art. My personal background, as well as almost all artistic themes can be found under “About us.”
Contact & Studio
0176-21916227
markhellbusch@web.de
Studio in Wiesbaden – viewings by appointment.
Direct purchase and shipping also available.
