Marianne Simonin is a French artist with a studio practice in London since 1995.
She has taken part in numerous exhibitions in England and abroad. After a two year Art foundation (Poitiers,1979) she joined online courses with StudioELL (New York 2010) and with the Contemporary Art Academy (London, 2022-23).
Statement
I am interested in the impermanence of time, using painting, drawing and collage to explore identity, memories and symbolism.
My latest technique involves overlaying inks, lines, pencils and colours over her work, in order to explore the many possibilities of the subconscious language.
My source of references stem from my archive of vintage and personal photos, songs and poems My paintings have a psychological or spiritual presence depending on the theme, and archetypes and symbols often filter in my work.
I use the human figure as a thread to revive emotions and childhood memories, or to make a statement about women that I admire and see as symbols of female energy. The use of black is also important in my work, and I go through phases when I can only work in this shade.
Initially an oil painter I now explore mixed media to adapt the technique and medium to my theme. This can range from flooding large canvas on the floor to create a momentum between chance and control to writing delicately with ink and nib over drawings.
My titles are part of the creative process and at times they initiate the work. I also like the language of colours, and rarely use them in their primary form. I always search variations of tones by mixing them and exploring different tones and shades, transparency or opacity.
I like to explore also Tantric symbolism, as it allows me to work in a more abstract and meditative way using primordial shapes. My technique may involve a ritualistic approach while working on spiritual themes.
I frequently travel by myself to find inspiration, spending many days in silence.
I am interested in the impermanence of time, using painting, drawing and collage to explore identity, memories and symbolism.
My latest technique involves overlaying inks, lines, pencils and colours over her work, in order to explore the many possibilities of the subconscious language.
My source of references stem from my archive of vintage and personal photos, songs and poems My paintings have a psychological or spiritual presence depending on the theme, and archetypes and symbols often filter in my work.
I use the human figure as a thread to revive emotions and childhood memories, or to make a statement about women that I admire and see as symbols of female energy. The use of black is also important in my work, and I go through phases when I can only work in this shade.
Initially an oil painter I now explore mixed media to adapt the technique and medium to my theme. This can range from flooding large canvas on the floor to create a momentum between chance and control to writing delicately with ink and nib over drawings.
My titles are part of the creative process and at times they initiate the work. I also like the language of colours, and rarely use them in their primary form. I always search variations of tones by mixing them and exploring different tones and shades, transparency or opacity.
I like to explore also Tantric symbolism, as it allows me to work in a more abstract and meditative way using primordial shapes. My technique may involve a ritualistic approach while working on spiritual themes.
I frequently travel by myself to find inspiration, spending many days in silence.
BORN in France
Lives and work in London
EDUCATION
1977- 79 Art foundation Camille Guerin and Beaux Arts, Poitiers (France)
2005 The Royal School of Drawing (London) - Pigment techniques with Pip Seymour
2011-16 Master in Ayurvedic Medicine (M.CM Ayur), Middlesex University
2017 StudioELL, NYC - Developing Practice online, independent study / mixed media
2023 Contemporary Art Academy, London - Personal Practice (PG1 + PG2)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
- Exploring grief through loss. Willesden Gallery, London NW10
- Parsing Reality - Group show of 7 artists The Tabernacle, London W10
- The Independent Hotel show, with M.M.Artconsult & Rosendale Design, Olympia. London
- Art talk, the importance of creativity, London, curated by M.M.ArtConsult & The Reclaimery
- AAF UK, Hampstead, showing with Siger Gallery, London NW3
- Touch and remember, 125 New Bond Street, London W1
- 30/30 - online group show organized by 12o collective
- From Scratch, Spitalfields studios, London E1
- A thousand words, Global virtual exhibition, The curator's salon.
- Auntie Freeze, Cave gallery, Pimlico, London SW1
- Centre Pompidou-Metz, Salon de l'edition No1, with gallerie 379 Nancy
- Willesden Gallery, London NW10 - online and in-situ
- Les Nouvelles Metamorphoses, Contemporary Art festival, La Mothe St Heray (France)
- Les carres 379 - Une collection. Nancy, France
- 30/30 - online group show organized by 12o collective
- The Wings assignments - online submission during Covid19
- Lockdown gallery - online
- High noon gallery, NYC - Election night, poetry & Art. (online)
- Industville gallery SE18
- LAF Festival of Contemporary Art
- Enshrine, St Pancras Crypt, NW1
- Thames-sides Barriers, open studios
- Thoughts become Art, Baumhaus Berlin, Germany
- These Studios Cities, #1: Origins & Motifs, SE18 - curated by A. M. Hanson
- Thames-Sides Studios, SE18 5NR
- Siger Gallery, Yami-ichi (Black Market), Tate Modern, SE1
- Second Floor Art Studios, SE15
- SPACE Open Studios, Martello St, E8
- The wing asylum, Caroline Garden's Chapel, Asylum Rd, SE15
- Touch, Creative Cricklewood, NW2
- One New Change, St Paul's, EC4
- SPACE open studios, E8
- The Tantric Wasp Art show, Four Seasons, NW2
- Of Special Interest, N8
- SPACE Open Studios, E8
Artworks open, Barbican Arts Group Trust, E17
2007
Bhavan Gallery, West Kensington, W12
Martello Studios, Hackney, E8
La maison des artistes, N7
2006
Holistic Health, Broadway Market, E8
2005
Never Ever Land – The Residence, Victoria Park, E9
Mile of Art exhibition Hackney, E8
Icons of Easter: Stations of the Cross, Waterloo, SE1.
Blue Wing Gallery, Padstow and Falmouth, Cornwall
2004
Viva la muerte, Corsica Art studios, SE17
Collyer-Bristow Spain summer exhibition, 4 Bedford Row, WC1
Bhavan Indian cultural center, W12
Blue Wing Gallery, Padstow, Cornwall
2002
Arts Projects Ltd, Cambridge Gardens, W10
2001
Save the Children - Barnes, SW13
Arts Projects Ltd, Cambridge Gardens, W10
Collyer-Bristow, 4 Bedford Row, WC1
2000
Riverside Studios - Hammersmith, W6
Rowe & Maw - Fleet Place, EC4
Betina Fine Art, Artist Living South London SE24
Art Project Ltd - Cambridge Gardens, W10
Betina Morton Gallery, SE5
1999
Riverside Studios, W6
1998
Riverside Studios - Hammersmith, W6
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
- Lounge gallery, Thames-Sides Studios, London
- Castrads Ltd, Chelsea, London
- Industville gallery, SE18
- As Above - so Below, Scarlett Maguire gallery, Cromer St, WC1
- Passion, Publicis, 82 Baker St, W1
- Spirit & Matter, Dion, Leadenhall St, EC3
- Mantras, Flextech Television, Gt Portland St, W1
- A&D Gallery, 51 Chiltern St, W1U 6LY
- The Art Bar, Walton St, London SW3 2HP
AWARDS
Fusion Art, USA – Honourable mention awards (2019)
for Highways & Byways
Publications
Maison Kaywa - Issue #1 - February 2024
Heliopause magazine #2 - December 2018, #3 – March 2019
Spectrum magazine - spring 2002
Private collections
UK & Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Canada and Italy.
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