Marianne Simonin is a French artist who uses painting, photography and writing to explore female identity, symbolism and the dynamics of colours. She shifts between figurative and abstraction in order to explore at a deeper level the many possibilities and the subconscious language.
She considers herself autodidact, and did not want to pursue academic studies after her two year Art foundation in Poitiers (1979) shortly before coming to live in London. She studies instead the work of artists and different art movements she relates to and feel this is where she learns the most. She has drawn inspiration from the following artists: Uwe Wittwer (Swiss), Françoise Pétrovitch (French), Celia Paul (UK), Agnes Martin (USA) and Japanese art. Although painting and drawing will remain her main tools of choice, she likes to explore her creativity in other forms, such as working with fabrics, crochet, photography and clay. She rejects labels in general and is not focused in trying to stick to one style of expression. She has always known herself as having multiple personalities, which in the past has been difficult to deal with, especially when positioning herself as an artist. With time she has learnt to accept herself as it is and she can see a conductive thread between her many ways of being. She now embraces them positively and has learned to combine them in her creative journey. |
Statement
My source of references stem from my archive of vintage and personal photos, songs, poems, and meditative states. My paintings have a psychological or spiritual presence depending on the theme.
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.
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 shades, transparency or opacity.
I have in the past explored Tantric symbolism , something I return to from time to time, it allows me to work in a more abstract and meditative way using primordial shapes. My technique may involve incantation in a ritualistic approach while working on spiritual themes.
I frequently travel by myself to find inspiration, spending many days in silence, observing, while moving from place to place.
My studio is currently in North West London surrounded by a beautiful park which helps me to remain connected with nature.
Further information on her C.V.
My source of references stem from my archive of vintage and personal photos, songs, poems, and meditative states. My paintings have a psychological or spiritual presence depending on the theme.
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.
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 shades, transparency or opacity.
I have in the past explored Tantric symbolism , something I return to from time to time, it allows me to work in a more abstract and meditative way using primordial shapes. My technique may involve incantation in a ritualistic approach while working on spiritual themes.
I frequently travel by myself to find inspiration, spending many days in silence, observing, while moving from place to place.
My studio is currently in North West London surrounded by a beautiful park which helps me to remain connected with nature.
Further information on her C.V.
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