Simon Houlton is a contemporary Turkish painter whose artistic journey is marked by a fiercely independent spirit and an aversion to conventional techniques. As a self-taught artist, Simon embraces the freedom to chart his own course through both art and life, preferring to learn from his own mistakes rather than adhere to formal instruction.
Rejecting traditional methods, Simon's work is characterized by bold experimentation and raw expression. He employs bold black lines, splashes, smears, and happy accidents to create pieces that eschew perfection in favor of authenticity. This unconventional approach, often discouraged by formal educators, allows him to convey emotions and narratives with a raw, scratchy aesthetic that resonates deeply with viewers.
Themes of introspection and human struggle permeate Simon's work, with recurring motifs of faces, fish, and skeletons. Many of his portraits serve as windows into his own psyche, capturing moments of emotional turmoil and self-reflection. Through his art, Simon seeks to confront the darker aspects of the human experience—self-doubt, despair, isolation, and societal degradation—in a manner that is both relatable and thought-provoking.
Each painting is a product of spontaneous intuition, guided by periods of silent contemplation and introspection. Simon's goal is not to create pretty or technically flawless images, but rather to evoke deep, visceral reactions in his audience. He aims to challenge societal taboos surrounding mental health and human vulnerability, inviting viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and engage in meaningful introspection. In Simon's world, art is not merely an aesthetic pursuit, but a powerful tool for confronting the complexities of the human condition.
My second solo exhibition 'Outsider', ran between 09.10.23 – 12.10.23 in Eskişehir, Turkey. I was hoping to exhibit with a fellow outsider artist this time, but unfortunately, he had to pull out at the last minute.
The exhibition included 21 Paintings all painted within the last two years. Including my latest works Outsider and Sir Ox Hat.
In terms of scope, the artworks in this exhibition differ considerably from my first exhibition ‘Windows‘. Windows was mostly a collection of self-portraits hence the name suggesting that the artworks were a window into my internal process (with the obvious exception of Women Life Freedom).
Outsider, in contrast, seeks to explore a considerably more diverse range of subjects including war (Obverser), the pharmaceutical industry (Sir Ox Hat), Suicide (Ideation), work (nightshift in the rain), societal isolation (Outsider, The Misanthrope, Bigmouth, Exile), romantic relationships (Patlican Man, Fish Bones, My Robot Heart, King of Nowhere), absurdism (Certainty, Pudding Dash), political discourse (Judge, Jury, & Executioner) and Turkey’s devastating earthquake in February of this year (06/02/2023, Anxiety Overkill).
Attila Özer Karikatür Evi, Eskibağlar, Eskişehir, Türkiye
Pleased to announce an upcoming joint exhibition with Umut Arda Özen, details to follow .....
Hoşnudiye, İsmet İnönü-1 Blv 109A, 26130 Tepebaşı/Eskişehir, Türkiye
My solo exhibition at Musuem is up and running until the 14th of February 2023, featuring 25 selected pieces.
