Thomas Griffiths / Splash (Smaller)

Splash (Smaller)
2026
Hand Finished Stainless Steel Multiple
Edition of 18
215mm x 110mm x 30mm
£180
Splash (Smaller) is a limited edition laser cut steel multiple made specially for the group exhibition RELAY [02] at Platform A, Middlesbrough. It is included in the exhibition alongside other new works by Griffiths including related wall based work Field (Series), 2026 and sculptural installation Holds, 2026.
Griffiths has developed Splash (Smaller) from an existing sculptural body of work titled Splash (Series), a group of large freestanding three dimensional works made in 2024. Across these works, the fluid motion of liquid is paired with the sharp, angular geometry of razor wire - a form which evokes danger and violence while operating as a threshold of control, protection, and exclusion. 
The work is underpinned by a wry sense of humour and this new intimately scaled multiple distills these ideas into a two dimensional, wall based object, drawing a closer engagement. The multiple invites the possibility of presenting this work in a domestic setting, but warning, please handle with care.
Rooted in the symbolism of barriers, Splash (Smaller) continues Griffiths’ exploration of materials that carry both aesthetic and violent histories. The flowing arcs, influenced by the theatrical movement of water in ‘Eaux d'artifice’ by Kenneth Anger, introduce an unexpected softness to a motif associated with harm and restriction. This interplay between allure and risk is central - the work invites attention through its polished surface and elegant form, yet its conceptual origins resist any notion of passive beauty. 
Thomas Griffiths (Bolton, 1993), is an artist based in Sheffield, Influenced by desire and danger, captured through the lens of industrial artefacts and public/hidden spaces. Their practice reimagines and reinscribes commonplace objects and symbols with unexpected interpretations; nuances of working-class culture and queer references seep into the conversation. Sensual-yet-gauche representations combine with tongue-in-cheek humour to convey these narratives. Alongside their artistic practice, they are a curator and co-director of GLOAM, an artist-led grassroots gallery and studio space, Sheffield.