Interview
Simon Darling
Simon Darling is a multiple award-winning artist who makes paintings, drawings, and mixed media artworks. He is best known for promoting a mix of conflicting feelings and thoughts through his Imitated Pragmatism work — a realistic representation of that which is not known on the surface.
His work portrays and visualizes the unknown, and inner psychological and philosophical states of ourselves. In physical form, they imitate the pragmatism and/or ideology of our thoughts and emotions, which come alive through the visualization.
Besides holding a degree in architectural technology and design, Simon has lectured several art classes, teaching and debating the fundamentals of artistic philosophy.
He has held 11 solo exhibitions, and has had his work included in 17 group shows, both domestic and internationally.
Simon was recently awarded the prestigious Artist of the Future Award for the most outstanding and talented artists in the art world. He also received the Power of Creativity award for creative excellence and recognition of outstanding achievements in innovation and creativity.
Furthermore, his works have been recognized in media and books such as CAS Book Volume lll 2022, CAE Book Volume IV, Contemporary Art of Excellence Book 2021 and We Contemporary 2021. With multiple awards to his name, Simon’s work is represented in private collections all over the world such as Europe, Australia, Japan and USA.
Through his paintings, Simon unites and expresses the unexplainable, indefinite and confusing emotions from the obscure realm of imagination.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My artist name is SDarling. Besides being an art school dropout, I’m a holder of a degree in architectural technology and design, and have been studying advanced psychology and philosophy. I've always had a passion for creating, building and designing; turning my thoughts and ideas into visual and physical forms. At the age of 14, I quickly spun my Mom’s garage into a studio. It’s here that I found my solitude and self-expression through painting, while navigating the world of art. My Mom, an abstract artist taught me the basics of painting, and I started drawing and painting from an early age.
Today, I’m best known for my deep, obscure, and expressive portraits. I started my journey within the art world during my first group show in Berlin 2011, followed by my first solo exhibition in 2012.”
What inspires you?
“I get most of my inspiration from experiences, thoughts and ideas from situations, surroundings, words and music. I don’t think I can call out one thing that influences me the most. What influences me is bigger and more ‘out there’.
I tend to dig really deep and always end up way too deep inside myself. My thoughts and experiences definitely impact my artwork, as the main factor in my paintings comes from the deep, dark and obscure realm of imagination. My influence can be pulled from everywhere and everyone. I have continual influence in my life from people I surround myself with, and even people who once were, but aren’t anymore.
I have to credit my Mom for introducing me to the art world through her creativeness and mindfulness. She didn’t change me by trying to reprogram or redirect me, but she let me become my own person. I also acknowledge the unknown people who influenced me while I was creating my first award-winning painting series. There’s also my friends and family who constantly feed me energy and inspiration to keep creating. People who were only there for a short time, people with emotional and intellectual depth, people that speak with passion from their inner twisted mind, and even you.”
“Through my paintings, I unite and express the inexplicable, indefinite and confusing emotions from the obscure realm of imagination.
I hope that my paintings will result in inspirational emotions and thoughts which each individual can generate to their own benefit.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is best described as portraits of complexities of various emotional and psychological states, highlighted in altered ways, imitating the madness and unknown of everyday life. I call this ‘Imitated Pragmatism’, defined as a realistic representation of that which is not known on the surface.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I don’t consider myself directly influenced by any artist in terms of style. But I have to mention Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Yoshitomo Nara and George Condo as some of the artists whom I’ve followed and studied through my career. Basquiat for skillfully merged styles and traditions, creating collage-type works of contemporary art. Damien Hirst for his conceptual art which deliberately provokes and addresses beauty, death, rebirth, technology, and mortality. Yoshitomo for his Japanese neo-Pop movement where he’s creating paintings, drawings, and sculptures, trying to find identity in a rapidly modernizing and violent world. And Condo for his way of exploring the private, off-moments or unseen aspects of humanity.”
“The definition of art is the way we express our imaginative conceptual thoughts and ideas. Through each individual’s technical skills, we attempt to evoke a certain kind of emotion—a reflection or visualization to put our message across. Art affects our essential sense of self.
The impact an artist has on society is highly affected by the personality of the individual artist and their chosen style of work.”
What is your creative process like?
“My mind is constantly busy. I tend to work on different projects at the same time as I can’t stay focused on one thing at a time. Along the process of creating one thing, new thoughts and ideas occur and inspire me to start new projects. I can just ‘throw away’ one project and go start another.
The progress from a thought to a finished product involves an intense mix of emotions and thoughts, all at the same time. But I believe it’s all a part of the journey. It’s not the finished product which is the art; the process itself is the true ‘art’. I’ve learned to trust the journey even when doubting and not being motivated because the outcome, majority of the time, is positive.
No process is the same, which is the beauty of it. By creating this piece of art, you’re showing someone what can’t be seen, and telling them what sometimes can’t be said. The deeper meaning of the process is connected to its creator.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe art and artists influence society by shifting opinions, introducing values and decoding experiences across given dimensions, space and time. Art in any form is the definition of a person’s singular expression of thoughts, emotions or perceptions, which is in many ways an expression of an artist’s character. Through art, we explain the inexplicable by creating a deeper meaning through another dimension, with the media we choose as a content explanation method.
Many people would probably say that the role of the artists is in part to describe life. My approach is more about shedding light on aspects that may otherwise be missed. But most contemporary artists nowadays take on more than one approach and use their platform to get their message across. The evolution of an artist’s role in society is never ending. It is as impulsive as the artist’s inspiration and ideas, evolving and adapting at the same chaotic pace as society.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“The very first exhibition for any creative person is a noteworthy, stimulating and exciting experience. For me, it’s all about growth towards what I want to accomplish on a personal scale, but also in my art career.
The next step in the process is the most exciting part of it all, which is also why I’m looking forward to my next solo exhibition in June. I’ll be showing a brand new style series of paintings. Links to the exhibition can be found on my website at the beginning of May, 2022.”
