Marianne Simonin is a French artist living in London since early 80s. Her work shifts between figurative and abstraction, exploring essentially female energy, Tantric symbolism and nature. Her source of inspiration and references stem from poetry, songs, deep emotions, and meditative states. The work produced has a strong psychological or spiritual presence.
She uses a variety of media, mostly oils for the richness of colours and the flexibility of the medium, but also acrylics, charcoal, inks and photography to explore her themes. The process of manifestation and destruction often takes place during the making of a painting, as well as tuning with inner vibrations . She frequently ‘floods’ her paintings on the floor, creating a momentum between chance and control, thus feeding the next stages of the work in progress. The titles she uses are part of the creative process, and in many occasions they initiate the work.
Marianne has a fascination towards the 'soul' or the personality of people revealing itself through the eyes, which often let her explore portraiture of her imagination or those that intrigue her. She then seeks to access states of mind hiding behind expressions.
One of the themes that she revisits regularly is the exploration of Tantric symbolism as it allows her to work in a more abstract and meditative way. At times, her technique may involve incantation in a ritualistic approach while working on spiritual themes. Words then filter onto the canvas, as repetitive mantras, and merge as part of the composition. More details on her spiritual practice .
Her current studio is in Woolwich at Thames-sides Studios, Unit 5 #205, Warspite Road, London SE18 5NR
link to CV
She uses a variety of media, mostly oils for the richness of colours and the flexibility of the medium, but also acrylics, charcoal, inks and photography to explore her themes. The process of manifestation and destruction often takes place during the making of a painting, as well as tuning with inner vibrations . She frequently ‘floods’ her paintings on the floor, creating a momentum between chance and control, thus feeding the next stages of the work in progress. The titles she uses are part of the creative process, and in many occasions they initiate the work.
Marianne has a fascination towards the 'soul' or the personality of people revealing itself through the eyes, which often let her explore portraiture of her imagination or those that intrigue her. She then seeks to access states of mind hiding behind expressions.
One of the themes that she revisits regularly is the exploration of Tantric symbolism as it allows her to work in a more abstract and meditative way. At times, her technique may involve incantation in a ritualistic approach while working on spiritual themes. Words then filter onto the canvas, as repetitive mantras, and merge as part of the composition. More details on her spiritual practice .
Her current studio is in Woolwich at Thames-sides Studios, Unit 5 #205, Warspite Road, London SE18 5NR
link to CV
Letting go - photo© Marianne Simonin
