Simon King-Underwood
“I proceed very slowly, because nature is extremely complex for me, and the progress to be made is infinite. It is not enough to see one’s model well, one must also feel it exactly, and then express oneself with force and clarity.” (Paul Cézanne)
Geometry, a term composed of the prefix “ge”, which means “earth”, and “metria”, which means “measuring”, literally means “measurement of the earth”, and is that branch of mathematical science, which deals with shapes and of their relations with space. Simon King-Underwood’s art is characterized by an artistic research in close connection with this discipline, making his works real new worlds made of meticulously described lines and spaces. Real visual translations of reality, in what he himself defines as ‘Geometric Constructivism’
In “Pine Tree Bark”, a series of vertical lines occupy the space, opening the viewer to a distressing vision, heightened by the fast pace and the use of purely dark colors, ranging from black to brown. Some white points of light stand out violently on the surface, in the form of long and narrow lines that accompany the contours of the shapes. All told through a technique that treasures the teachings of the great master Paul Cezanne, precursor of the artistic current of Cubism. For Cezanne, “the form, the design, the way of constructing the figurative space had to be radically renewed”, it was necessary to build a new figurative space, through the form.
King-Underwood, transposes these teachings into a fully contemporary language. His landscapes become forms in space. In some cases he focuses his attention on certain details, such as the bark of a pine tree, creating new visions of Nature. It is interesting how approaching the work in question, new details can be discovered, truly entering deeply into the body of Mother Earth. King-Underwood, makes his art the means to discover Nature. Showing it through new eyes, he allows us to grasp the myriad of wonders that characterize it, leading us on a modern experiential journey.
Art Curator Francesca Brunello