Guy Simpson has a solo exhibition titled House of Fran at THK Gallery Cape Town, opening on Thursday 30 March from 6 – 8pm. THK will also host an artist talk at the gallery this Saturday, 1 April at 11am.
Continuing the artist’s meditation on non-objects —from door handles to light switches — House of Fran depicts Simpson’s
childhood home just before his mother, Fran, moved away. Taking a last look at the spaces that formed the backdrop to his coming of age, the paintings are a loving tribute to a home: both a celebration and a loss, a eulogy for a lived space.
“Simpson is in that early phase of his career as a painter where he is still experimenting and figuring stuff out, be it how colours mix and paint settles, or how small details, given the dignity of notice, can provide something approaching an insight. In this, his process, which is also an act of painterly faith, reminds me of film historian Donald Richie, who said of traditional Japanese aesthetics: “[T]he ostensible is the actual, the apparent is the real. We see what is there, and behind it we glimpse a principle.”
Truth is a quizzical cynosure in our post-truth era. Rather than shy away from hunting for glimpses of it, Simpson has committed himself to finding it – “small truths from within the giant-ness of changing life,” as he neatly put it in 2020 – in what is visible and apparent, be it a popcorn-textured wall with panic button and light switch, or an unloved chair likely that will remain after the last of the Simpson family leaves 82 Pembroke Street.” Sean O’Toole.
WHAT: Guy Simpson – House of Fran
WHERE: THK Cape Town, 52 Waterkant Street, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: Opening 30 March 18h00 – 20h00 | Artist walk-about Saturday 1 April 11h00 | Gallery Hours Tues – Fri 10:00 – 18:00 Sat 10:00 – 15:00
INFO: T +27 (0) 87 470 0178 | E linda@thkgallery.com | Visit
The WHAT, WHY & WHERE of the
arts scene in around Cape Town
see the 2023 art craft + museums_map
and listen in to the Sanlam
Arts Round Up Fridays @16.10
on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm
The FMR App makes it even easier to tune into the Sanlam Arts Round Up on Fridays! i-Phone HERE | Android HERE
