MICHAEL WERNER GALLERY, LONDON
Michael Werner Gallery, London is pleased to present Phantom, an exhibition of recent paintings and sculptures by Raphaela Simon (b. 1986, Villingen, Germany).
Throughout her career, Simon has sought to capture the ineffable on canvas. Even when painting a seemingly neutral subject, such as an abstract shape or an inanimate object, Simon is looking for the tension or “the hidden power beneath the surface.”
In her recent works, Simon has shifted to painting figures and heads that are subjected to a variety of situations and scenarios. The heads, with their fixed expressions and hollow appearance, are also masks. As a mask, they conceal shame, block madness, and protect the wearer from anger and horror. While they can appear outwardly melancholic, aggressive, or apathetic, they are intended to convey deep emotion. For Simon, they act as a vehicle to give voice to inexpressible needs and suffering.
Phantom, the painting for which the exhibition is named, most clearly illustrates Simon’s intention of making the unseen visible. The face of a spirit appears on the body of the painter and dominates her. Dots flow from the eyes, across the shoulders, and down the arms of the painter, as the painter then tries to capture the spirit on the canvas.
Raphaela Simon studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich. Solo exhibitions have been held worldwide at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome; Kunsthalle Düsseldorf; Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin and Paris; Hannah Hoffman Gallery, Los Angeles; and Michael Werner Gallery, London. Her most recent public exhibition, Raphaela Simon: Die Nachahmung der Rose, is on view at Oldenburger Kunstverein in Oldenburg until 21 April 2024. Simon lives and works in Berlin.
Phantom opens to the public on 17 May with a private view on 16 May from 6-8pm. The exhibition will remain on view through the summer. A full-colour catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
Raphaela Simon
“Zuckerwürfel (Sugar Cube)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
65 x 78 3/4 inches
165 x 200 cm
SIM 89
Raphaela Simon
“Stampfer 1 (Masher 1)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
82 3/4 x 70 3/4 inches
210 x 180 cm
SIM 98
Raphaela Simon
“Anpassung (Adjustment)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
82 3/4 x 76 3/4 inches
210 x 195 cm
SIM 112
Raphaela Simon
“Brand (Fire)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
86 1/2 x 74 3/4 inches
220 x 190 cm
SIM 118
Raphaela Simon
“Hoher Sessel (Tall Armchair)”, 2023
Oil on canvas
90 1/2 x 70 3/4 inches
230 x 180 cm
SIM 128
Raphaela Simon
“Lärm (Noise)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
63 x 78 3/4 inches
160 x 200 cm
SIM 145
Raphaela Simon
“Drahtseil (Tightrope)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
39 1/4 x 43 1/4 inches
100 x 110 cm
SIM 147
Raphaela Simon
“Lärm 1 (Noise 1)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
31 1/2 x 43 1/4 inches
80 x 110 cm
SIM 152
Raphaela Simon
“Beton (Concrete)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
78 3/4 x 67 inches
200 x 170 cm
SIM 155
Raphaela Simon
“Phantom”, 2023
Oil on canvas
82 3/4 x 63 inches
210 x 160 cm
SIM 157
Raphaela Simon
“Tarnung (Camouflage)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
78 3/4 x 69 inches
200 x 175 cm
SIM 159
Raphaela Simon
“Dampf (Steam)”, 2015
Oil on canvas
67 x 78 3/4 inches
170 x 200 cm
SIM 164
Raphaela Simon
“Müdigkeit (Fatigue)”, 2023
Oil on canvas
69 x 78 3/4 inches
175 x 200 cm
SIM 165
Raphaela Simon
“Tattoo”, 2024
Oil on canvas
67 x 78 3/4 inches
170 x 200 cm
SIM 166
Raphaela Simon
“Frühstück (Breakfast)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
63 x 78 3/4 inches
160 x 200 cm
SIM 167
Raphaela Simon
“Heizung (Heating)”, 2023
Oil on canvas
59 x 47 1/4 inches
150 x 120 cm
SIM 168
Raphaela Simon
“Haut (Skin)”, 2022
Fabric, cotton wool, wood
94 1/2 x 39 1/4 x 23 1/2 inches
240 x 100 x 60 cm
SIMP 20
Raphaela Simon
“Seeigel (Sea Urchin)”, 2023
Fabric, cotton wool, wire, wood
39 1/4 x 43 1/4 x 43 1/4 inches
100 x 110 x 110 cm
SIMP 30
Raphaela Simon
“Blume (Flower)”, 2023
Fabric, cotton wool, wire
27 1/2 x 43 1/4 x 43 1/4 inches
70 x 110 x 110 cm
SIMP 31
Raphaela Simon
“Zuckerwürfel (Sugar Cube)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
65 x 78 3/4 inches
165 x 200 cm
SIM 89
Raphaela Simon
“Stampfer 1 (Masher 1)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
82 3/4 x 70 3/4 inches
210 x 180 cm
SIM 98
Raphaela Simon
“Anpassung (Adjustment)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
82 3/4 x 76 3/4 inches
210 x 195 cm
SIM 112
Raphaela Simon
“Brand (Fire)”, 2022
Oil on canvas
86 1/2 x 74 3/4 inches
220 x 190 cm
SIM 118
Raphaela Simon
“Hoher Sessel (Tall Armchair)”, 2023
Oil on canvas
90 1/2 x 70 3/4 inches
230 x 180 cm
SIM 128
Raphaela Simon
“Lärm (Noise)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
63 x 78 3/4 inches
160 x 200 cm
SIM 145
Raphaela Simon
“Drahtseil (Tightrope)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
39 1/4 x 43 1/4 inches
100 x 110 cm
SIM 147
Raphaela Simon
“Lärm 1 (Noise 1)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
31 1/2 x 43 1/4 inches
80 x 110 cm
SIM 152
Raphaela Simon
“Beton (Concrete)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
78 3/4 x 67 inches
200 x 170 cm
SIM 155
Raphaela Simon
“Phantom”, 2023
Oil on canvas
82 3/4 x 63 inches
210 x 160 cm
SIM 157
Raphaela Simon
“Tarnung (Camouflage)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
78 3/4 x 69 inches
200 x 175 cm
SIM 159
Raphaela Simon
“Dampf (Steam)”, 2015
Oil on canvas
67 x 78 3/4 inches
170 x 200 cm
SIM 164
Raphaela Simon
“Müdigkeit (Fatigue)”, 2023
Oil on canvas
69 x 78 3/4 inches
175 x 200 cm
SIM 165
Raphaela Simon
“Tattoo”, 2024
Oil on canvas
67 x 78 3/4 inches
170 x 200 cm
SIM 166
Raphaela Simon
“Frühstück (Breakfast)”, 2024
Oil on canvas
63 x 78 3/4 inches
160 x 200 cm
SIM 167
Raphaela Simon
“Heizung (Heating)”, 2023
Oil on canvas
59 x 47 1/4 inches
150 x 120 cm
SIM 168
Raphaela Simon
“Haut (Skin)”, 2022
Fabric, cotton wool, wood
94 1/2 x 39 1/4 x 23 1/2 inches
240 x 100 x 60 cm
SIMP 20
Raphaela Simon
“Seeigel (Sea Urchin)”, 2023
Fabric, cotton wool, wire, wood
39 1/4 x 43 1/4 x 43 1/4 inches
100 x 110 x 110 cm
SIMP 30
Raphaela Simon
“Blume (Flower)”, 2023
Fabric, cotton wool, wire
27 1/2 x 43 1/4 x 43 1/4 inches
70 x 110 x 110 cm
SIMP 31