Ascetic // aesthetic

This is the illustrated story of how I built a life-size replica of my studio flat from daily paintings. From its inception of the first square pieces in 2018 up to and including the 2026 exhibition which brings together the old and the new series. 

It is about the similarities and the differences, with whimsical and personal musings providing an honest and vulnerable narrative.

Its 180 pages are a 50-50 mix of words and glossy pictures, a mix of process shots and close-up. Includes wide images of the completed sections, all jigsawed together, as well as the full install of the exhibition.

Touching on some of my other work which I don’t often talk about – the portrait series, the Shadow Work project, it goes darker and deeper while existing contemporaneously with the daily ritual of the squares.

Rod Kitson, a London-based artist, transforms the everyday into profound artistic statements, prioritising the creative journey over flawless results. Since 2016, his exhibitions have showcased a distinctive vision.

His most ambitious ongoing project, begun in 2018, involves meticulously recreating his south London studio apartment in oil paint, one square foot at a time. This ‘fragmented, glitchy jigsaw’ acts as a deeply personal visual diary, capturing years of moments and moods. This monumental undertaking resulted in his 2019 exhibition, ‘Machines for Living In’, featuring 190 one-square-foot oil paintings that collectively formed a life-size replica of his home.

That same year, Kitson converted a disused shop in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre into a dynamic studio and gallery, fostering community engagement by inviting visitors to create and exhibit their own art. Kitson also delves into human connection with his extensive portraiture series, ‘Where Are We Now’, which began in 2019. This sprawling project features hundreds of portraits of individuals from London and beyond, celebrating the authentic exchange between artist and sitter, embracing imperfections and honesty.

In 2021, Kitson embarked on his ongoing ‘Shadow Works’, a series of large, imaginative, and abstract paintings exploring the subconscious. These dream-like pieces delve into themes of childhood, belonging and mythology.

Across his diverse body of work, Kitson consistently explores themes of time, human connection, and the acceptance of imperfections, reflecting the richness of daily life and personal experience.