Three of Simon’s sculptures bear the names of great works of cartography, each a nod to the spirit of exploration, of heroic toil, of trial and error. They are each an homage to the compelling desire to project human-scale form and meaning onto the unknown.
Created as a tribute to Johann Bayer’s monumental endeavour to chart every star in the heavens, ‘Uranometria’ incorporates NASA/ESA imagery of the vast Tarantula Nebula across its silk sails. It stands - tall - as a modern continuation of Bayer’s atlas and a testament to all who keep mapping the night sky.
‘Harmonia Macrocosmica’ draws its title from Andreas Cellarius’ magnificent 1661 star atlas - widely regarded as one of the most exquisite celestial books ever created - in yet another effort to map the cosmos and comprehend humanity's role within it.
Taking its title as a tribute to Robert Dudley's pioneering four-volume maritime atlas and instructional text, ‘Dell’Arcano del Mare’ carries an aura of mystery, translating directly from Italian as ‘The Secrets of the Sea.’
Named for the Greek sun god, ‘Apollo’ serves as a contemporary allegory, endorsed by another namesake - an Apollo-era rocket. Perhaps drawing creative inspiration from the decorative borders of historic maps that personified elements, seasons, and celestial bodies, the artwork offers a radiant reimagining of the sun itself.
