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Smex

posted by Robyn Pitts July 22, 2020

Smex, aka Alex Weir, is a visual artist and illustrator living and working in Edinburgh, Scotland. Most of Alex’s works are digital drawings which he then transforms into accessible art forms including zines, prints, t-shirts, and tote bags. The artist also often shows his work in a ‘fine art’ context, creating playful, large-scale installations where the public can engage with the artworks.

Alex’s ongoing project, Smex Cafe, is a strong example of his installation work: it is a project combining food, zines, illustration, and painting in a fabricated cafe space. Currently, he is hosting a series of outdoor pop-up events as part of this project at Leith Walk Police Box in Edinburgh.

At the heart of all of Alex’s work is the spirit of community, which he often demonstrates through the incorporation of food. “Food and culinary arts are the biggest inspiration to me, particularly the ways in which people can connect through food and the sharing of meals” explains the artist. Having always lived in Scotland, naturally a lot of what Alex makes features the recognisable and stereotypical food and drink that embody Scottish identity, culture and traditions: haggis, square sausage, and Iron Bru.His work makes use of nostalgia and popular cultural references. Figures including Ronald McDonald, The Michelin Man, and The Colonel are repeatedly featured; “…I guess mainly for what they represent to the majority of people but also as a notion of nostalgia and comfort for myself“. In his recent zines; Ronald McDonald: Where is he Now?, and The Michelin Man’s Guide to Lockdown, Alex creates humorous stories based around these characters.

“Now more than ever I feel there is a need for community – to be able to share and stay connected with one another – and I hope my work can somehow express this through a light-hearted and humorous approach.”