Artist Call for December 2025 Exhibition at The Sidings, Waterloo Station—Hosted by SMOKINCAT and Inspired by Malevich’s Black Square
“The black square represents the embryo of all possibilities.”
In 1915, Kazimir Malevich unveiled his now-iconic Black Square—a stark, unapologetic statement that shattered the boundaries of art. Over a century later, its impact endures. It is more than a painting; it is a question, a challenge, and an invitation. Its cracks and imperfections have become part of its meaning, echoing the fragility and persistence of the human experience.
This December 2025, SMOKINCAT will host an exhibition at The Sidings, Waterloo Station, drawing inspiration from Malevich’s radical vision. Artists are invited to respond to Black Square as a foundation for exploring creativity, mental health, and reinvention. The works will follow a 30cm x 30cm format, creating a cohesive framework for personal interpretation and collective reflection.
Why Black Square?
This project began with a moment of curiosity. Late last summer, I had a profound dream that left me searching for meaning. Turning to AI—specifically ChatGPT—I asked for an analysis of the dream through the lens of Jungian psychology. What followed was an amazingly insightful introduction to Jung’s concept of the Shadow—the unseen parts of ourselves—and the role of creativity in bringing those hidden layers into view.
Later in the year, images of a black square began surfacing in my mind. They felt like symbols, questions, and openings. After further research, I discovered Malevich’s Black Square, struck by its boldness and relevance more than 100 years after it was created. It stands as both a void and a foundation—a space for reinvention and inquiry. Much like the meme space that inspired SMOKINCAT, it is a vessel for disruption, reinvention, and possibility.
Falling Crown—Layers of Meaning
This exploration led to my own work, Falling Crown, which debuts on January 11th at Showcase Night 2 at 26 Leake Street. In this piece, the black square acts as a void—a symbolic background against which fragmented crowns fall, reflecting vulnerability, resilience, and transformation. It mirrors the realities of mental health conversations, where openness often collides with feelings of hesitation, guilt, and shame.
Like Malevich’s Black Square, Falling Crown creates space to confront what is hidden, unresolved, or unspeakable. It invites viewers to pause, reflect, and imagine new ways of seeing.
IRL NFTs with Future Utility
At the January 11th event, Falling Crown will also be featured on postcards—physical artifacts that serve as IRL versions of NFTs. These postcards include a QR code linking to the SMOKINCAT Telegram chat, inviting people to witness another creative void/portal which is the crypto meme space.
More than keepsakes, these postcards function as keys to future utility—potentially unlocking access to future events, projects, or staking mechanisms tied to the SMOKINCAT meme coin. They are designed to bridge the gap between traditional art and the evolving crypto space, blending physical and digital value while offering room for further reinvention.
PLEASE NOTE it is important to approach the meme space with a healthy dose of curiosity and caution. The intention for inviting to the Telegram chat is to witness Marc Craig’s SMOKINCAT project evolving and to learn as he does.
Artist Call for December 2025
This brings us to the Artist Call for December 2025. Artists are invited to explore the themes of Black Square—its symbolism, its defiance, and its relationship to creativity and mental health. The exhibition will push boundaries, combining physical art with digital engagement and capturing the unpredictable energy of the meme space.
To apply, email marccraigartist@icloud.com with links to your website or social media by April 30th, 2025. There is no cost to apply, and sales at the exhibition will be split 60/40 between artists and organizers.
Final Thoughts
This exhibition is not about offering answers—it’s about asking better questions. Like Malevich’s Black Square, it invites exploration, reflection, and reinvention. With SMOKINCAT as the host, the project blends tradition with disruption, physical art with digital evolution, and creativity with bold experimentation.
It’s an opportunity to step into the unknown, to challenge conventions, and to create connections—through art, through community, and through shared meaning. Whether you’re an artist, a collector, or simply curious, this is an invitation to be part of something raw and radical.
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