Simon English
The sensitivity of Simon English’s work is virtually unrivalled. Using both small and large formats, compelling snippets of texts, melodies and any number of types of moods, Simon’s works on paper spirit us far away. He tries to tell us a story – often imaginary– and excels in luring us into traps. Born in Berlin in 1959, today he lives between London and Paris. His work appears in many collections, notably those of the British Museum, Saatchi, Falkenberg, the Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen and even that of the Russian State. He is represented by Fred Gallery in London, Volker Diehl in Berlin and Moscow, Agnès b. in Paris and Geoff &Rosenthal in New York.
Earliest memories
Rows and rows and rows of boots in the basement of an army
quarter in Berlin in the 60s. My father had a batman who looked a
little like Joe Brown, his job was to clean his boots but I’m sure
he did more than that. Boots, shoehorns and polish form part of the
few memories I have of my father before his fatal car crash in
Hanover when I was two and a half.
First feelings
Little red Wellington boots, were they mine or my sisters’ ? Faded
photographs record us never going anywhere without them. I think
we had red in Sunningdale, black in Haselmere and green in
Sturminster-Newton …
Last wishes
I want a beautiful pair of handmade brown leather boots which I will
learn to look after.