Simonsson renews the traditions of ceramic art by combining the idiom of classic marble sculpting with computer games and other elements of popular culture. He employs a special electrostatic technique of transferring nylon fiber to the surface of his sculptures, giving them a soft, furry appearance. The sculptor’s finger imprints are visible on the cratered surface, which refracts light as it hits the mossy folds. Thanks to the softening effect of the nylon fiber and the hand-molding technique, the textures of Simonsson’s new works are livelier and more organic than the smooth, glazed surfaces of his earlier cast pieces.
Simonsson graduated as a ceramics major from the University of Arts and Design in 2000. He is an internationally active artist whose work is found in Finnish and foreign collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, and Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA. This year he will make two significant appearances in France. Ten 4.5-meter-tall replicas of his moss people are currently being produced for the Lille3000 art festival. He will also participate in the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art with an installation of ceramic moss figures.
