New Spaces No 3 Artwork

2011 update "Moving from the canvas to the pixel" "Unlike other artists, while I work in the traditional mediums of oil paint graphite and indian ink, I do not exhibit these mediums in my end works as they are only part of the journey towards a digital end. I believe pixels are the most reflective medium of the times I live in and so I digitally capture my fine art works, manipulate them to my satisfaction and then produce a digital duotran which I then exhibit in light boxes. While we may be used to seeing photographic works in light boxes, my fine art works are a contrast to the normal experience of seeing similar works displayed in dark gallery and museum rooms to protect the delicacy of the original medium. High resolution photography now ensures the quality and definition of these works, so the bare canvas and pigment can be seen with no compromise to the use of this medium. In fact now the medium can take an assault of light from both in front and behind the works" - John Roch Simons explaining his work at the World Expo in Shanghai 2010. Artist: John Roch Simons Exhibition: World Expo - Shanghai, 2010 Text by Sean Larkin written in response to the ideas contained within the body of work of John Roch Simons' exhibition, Vas Éire - part 1 Vas Éire - part 1 The title of John Roch Simons' exhibition of work at the World Expo in Shanghai, 2010 refers in part to Giorgio Vasari, (1511-74) the Florentine Painter, architect and art impresario. Vasari's "Vite de' piu eccelenti Architetti, Pittori et Scultori Italiani" (translated from italian as "Lives of the most excellent Italian Architects, Painters and Sculptors",1st ed.1550, 2nd revised ed. 1568) and his letters are considered unparalleled sources for the biographies of Italian artists and techniques of art, and modes of thinking by artists about art in the mid 16th century.1 Like a latter day Vasari, albeit a 21st century version of Vasari, Simons' journey and practice as an artist locates itself in that space where the world of art and the art market intersect. For Simons the ambition is to make work that is accessible and provocative in the way the audience engages with his work. The fact his work has been seen by upward of 100,000 in the World Expo in Shanghai created an interesting platform for such large numbers to engage and interact with the work.