In my studio practice I investigate the essence of things we perceive: the physical, natural world and our place within it. I seek to understand the sublime qualities of rock: physically as the very earth that supports us and geologically as the almost ageless constant that resonates through time, giving perspective to our transient lives on this planet. As a climber I have a direct and intimate relationship with rock and the elemental; it is this link with physical world, which allows me a way in to understanding the nature of being, which I am exploring through my work. I’m interested by the interconnectedness between the human and the non-human, what passes and what outlasts, not just a surface reading but also an understanding of the rock’s interior, our interior and the hidden depth of things. The work explores differences between the animate the inanimate, the uncanny nature of internal spaces, which are often sacred and personal, in an attempt to better understand the self.
In my studio practice I investigate the essence of things we perceive: the physical, natural world and our place within it. I seek to understand the sublime qualities of rock: physically as the very earth that supports us and geologically as the almost ageless constant that resonates through time, giving perspective to our transient lives on this planet. As a climber I have a direct and intimate relationship with rock and the elemental; it is this link with physical world, which allows me a way in to understanding the nature of being, which I am exploring through my work. I’m interested by the interconnectedness between the human and the non-human, what passes and what outlasts, not just a surface reading but also an understanding of the rock’s interior, our interior and the hidden depth of things. The work explores differences between the animate the inanimate, the uncanny nature of internal spaces, which are often sacred and personal, in an attempt to better understand the self.
I also undertake large scale public commissions, working alongside teams of professionals in different disciplines in order to deliver placemaking art for all to see.
www.simonhitchens.com
mb: 07941650164
Solo exhibitions:
2009 - A Separate Reality, Royal British Society of Sculptors, London
2008 - Presence and Absence, Maddox Arts, London
2006 - Napoleon Garden, Holland Park, London
2005 - Spica Museum, Tokyo
2004 - Paul Stolder Gallery, London
2004 - In the Presence of Absence, St Stephen Walbrook, City of London
2004 - Seeking the Sublime, Hestercombe Gardens and Brewhouse Art Centre, Taunton, Somerset
1998 - New work, A22 Lystall Street, Paul Stolper, London
Group exhibitions:
2016 - Mending Revealed, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset
2015 - CAN Mountain Arts Festival, Rheged, Cumbria
2015 - Second Site, Hestercombe Gallery, Taunton, Somerset
2015 - Bedales Gallery 25, Bedales School, Hampshire
2013 - OnForm London, Crypt Gallery, London
2012 - Interesting Times, Royal Botanical Gardens, Leicester University
2012 - On Form 2012, Asthal Manor, Oxford
2011 - Hannah Peschar, Ockley, Surrey
2011 - New Work, Pincent Mason's, London
2011 - Received Wisdom, Arlington Arts centre, Newbury, Berkshire
2011 - Sculpture at the Grove, Grove Hotel, Hertforshire
2011 - Woburn Artbeat, Woburn Abbey Gardens, Bedfordshire
2010 - Ego Alter, Square 1 Art, Arundel, Sussex
2010 - Found, Arlington Arts Center, Newbury, Berkshire
2010 - Ludlow Open, Ludlow, Shropshire
2010 - New Work, Chelsea Flower Show, London
2010 - On Form 2010, Athall Manor, Burford, Oxford
2010 - Quartz Arts Festival, Queen's College, Taunton, Somerset
2010 - Sculpture in Paradise, Chichester Cathedral, Sussex
2010 - Small is Beautiful, Flowers West, London
2009 - A Quiet Knowledge, Arlington Arts Center, Berkshire
2009 - Art Contact Sculpture Show, Horseheath, Cambridgeshire
2009 - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Ockely, Surrey
2009 - Sound and Vision, Ilminster Arts Centre, Somerset
2009 - Ten Artists, The Old Forge, Ludlow, Shropshire
2008 - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Ockley, Surrey
2007 - Gulf Art Fair, Madinate Jumira, Dubai
2007 - Small is beautiful XXIV, Flowers Central, London
2007 - Spectrum, Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury
2006 - RBS, Rollo Contemporary Art, London
2006 - Small is beautiful XXIII, Flowers Central, London
2005 - Jerwood Sculpture Prize, Jerwood space, London
2005 - RBS Centenary Exhibition, Leicester University, Leicester
2005 - Sculpture in the planning, Atkinson Gallery, Millfield School, Somerset
2005 - Small is beautiful XXII, Flowers Central, London
2004 - Imagine, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London
2004 - Ivon, John and Simon Hitchens, The Canon Gallery, Petworth, West Sussex
2004 - j+ban 2004, Spica Museum, Tokyo
2003 - 40 Designers, Aubrey Square, London
2003 - Frieze Art Fair, Regents Park, London
2003 - Inaugural Exhibition, Paul Stolper Gallery, London
2003 - Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London
2002 - Farmilo Fiumano, London
2002 - Think Big, Peggy Guggenhiem Museum, Venice
2001 - In the blood, Wiseman Originals, London
2000 - Defining the times, Milton Keynes Gallery, Milton Keynes
1999 - Outside Art, Arundel Cathedral, Arundel
1999 - Seeing the light, Chichester Cathedral, Chichester
1998 - Inaugral Exhibition, Hiscox Art Café, London
1997 - Eight by Eight, Pallent House, Chichester
1997 - Lewes Sculpture Trail, Lewis Castle, Lewis
1997 - Young Blood, Crane Kalman, London
1996 - Crane Kalman, London
1996 - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Ockley, Surrey
1995 - Crane Kalman, London
1995 - CAS Market, Royal Festival Hall, London
1995 - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Ockley, Surrey
1995 - London Group Open, Barbican, London
1995 - Summer Show, Cadogan Contemporary, London
1994 - CAS Market, Royal Festival Hall, London
1994 - Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Ockley, Surrey
1993 - London Group Open, Barbican, London
1993 - St. Albans Art, St. Albans Cathedral
Private commissions:
2011 - The Trees of Life, Prior's Court School, Berkshire
2009 - In the Light of Night, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
2009 - The Balance of Entropy, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
2006 - Core, Sarrat, Herfordshire
2006 - Hussey, Fulham, London
2005 - Link, Weybridge, Surrey
2004 - Blue Silence, Sintons Solicitors, Newcastle
2004 - Entropic Circle, Stanmore, London
1998 - Risen, Sir Colin Southgate, Berkshire
Public commissions:
2015 - The Space Between - M&G Real Estate, Forbury Place, Reading
2015 - Diorite Desk, The Crown Estate, Piccadilly, London
2015 - Evidence of the Unseen Mountain, Native Land, Chelsea, london
2014 - Glorious Beauty, St Edward, Kensington, London
2013 - Unity, Urbanest, Kings Cross, London
2013 - Transition Point, Leys School, Cambridgeshire
2009 - Positive Emptiness II, Oasis cruise liner, Carribean
2008 - From Dawn until Dusk, Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth
2007 - Parallel Presence, Limeharbour, London
2006 - Coastline, Workington, Cumbria
2006 - Prospect Place, Belway Homes, Cardiff Bay
2003 - Shining Silence, 100 Brompton Road, London
2001 - Rubus Five, Rubus Quart, London Road, Bracknell
1999 - Quiet Understanding, Conquest Hospital, Hastings
