Tharien Smith – Creating beautiful artworks and textile products
she said
I express myself through my art, it is in many aspects an extension of who I am.
My subject matter is usually figurative and predominantly feminine, I explore the interactions we have with others, each sharing our truth and being connected to one another.
I am an observer, giving the viewer a 'slice of life'. A series of certain profound moments that I choose to reveal.
Tharien is fascinated with perspective, chiaroscuro and the Fibonacci sequence. She is also an avid admirer of nature and a lover of colour and music.
It was at TUT in Pretoria that she discovered her love for fabrics as well as textile and surface design. This has since become a distinct part of her work - a metamorphosis between art, design and textiles. Since graduating with a National Textile Degree, she's spent most of her career working in various creative corporate environments, designing everything from furnishing fabrics to fashion, graphics and ceramic tiles.
About five years ago, she decided to follow her passion and let creativity lead the way. While the journey is tough and sometimes painful, it can be very rewarding and is mostly a beautiful process.
She now resides in Cape Town, combining her skills to create beautiful artworks and textile products spanning across multiple mediums.