Painting Frenzy, April 2012, Sanayeh House, Beirut, Lebanon This painting installation was influenced by my work with children in a rehabilitation pre-school - Ghassan Kanafani Cultural Foundation (GKCF) - in Mar Elias Refugee Camp, Beirut. Having left my studio in Deptford London, I stayed in Sanayeh House, Beirut, which was shared accommodation mainly with Syrian people at the time. To continue to make my own 'studio based' paintings, I used my bedroom as a private space to make work. Whilst based here I also made a graphite storyboard, and three paintings on board. Some of my housemates and their friends were remarkable artists. 'Yesterday I had a ‘Painting frenzy’, which followed a trip on the school bus around different refugee camps as the children got dropped home. It is telling that in my process notes I only stated that I went to these camps and it was a valuable thing to do. Expected more of a reaction than that. But later when nine fairly substantial paintings seemed to make themselves it was clear that there had been an impact.’ Lee Simmons art diary, April 2012. 'Painting Frenzy', Acrylic paint on paper, 60x30cm, Beirut 2012
Green Fold, Poster paint, ink, and acrylic paint on cotton rag paper 75x55cm, 2012 Green fold was made towards the end of the first phase of 'Swimming & Other Things' project. In 2011 I was involved in work with a University, after which I reclaimed my art practice in the studio. This was also the first time I let myself really paint behind closed doors in a decade, having been mainly involved in outdoor painting projects, social art and public space works - organised and guerrilla. The series began on cotton rag paper, with a mix of childrens' paints and other institutional whilst decadent materials that I felt reflected parts of human nature I was interested in at the time. The painting remains underwater, in the suped-up natural world. This was made in the Old Police Station, Deptford, London, 2012. Green fold detail
Into the wild, acrylic and water based paint on khadi paper, 75x55cm 2011 Dusty, weighed down, back to nature we go. Young and old, the vines bind our wrists and hold our feet to the ground. We too then entwine with those who dare to pause. This was made in Deptford, London, 2011. Into the wild detail
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