Who is Maxime Simon?
Born in Lyon in 1973, Maxime Simon lives and works in Chassieu (Rhône).
Self-taught and influenced by a line of painters and draughtsmen from the eighteenth century to the present day, Maxime Simon has been photographing since the age of 21.
His artistic universe
Fascinated by the process in which the artist’s intention dialogues with his medium in a mutual game of interpretation, and educates himself in this exchange, he has never ceased to want to understand and translate the images that impose themselves on his gaze.
His practice, initially centred on silver-based black and white, was turned on its head in 2007 by the discovery of the vast creative potential of instant-development film. This enabled him to adopt a more intuitive approach and concentrate on composition, while at the same time allowing him to be seduced by the randomness of instant film and its unique rendering.
His work takes several directions: in addition to photography itself, he makes his own several processes for physically manipulating instant prints. These allow him to intervene in a variety of ways to alter the meaning and aesthetic content of his images.
Maxime presented his “Estampes Photographiques” (transfers on gold leaf) at the Rencontres Photographiques de Chabeuil in 2022.
The exhibition “Estampes photographiques” by Maxime Simon can be seen from 2 May to 18 May 2024 at the Galerie l’Alcôve, 15 rue René-Leynaud, 69001 Lyon.
Opening on Thursday 2 May, from 6pm.
Portraits on gilding” workshops on Saturday 4 May & Saturday 11 May from 2pm to 4.30pm at Galerie-Ateliers L’Alcôve. Registration required.