Globalisation

Simon Starling bases much of his ideas on efficiency. He once described his work as “the physical manifestation of a thought process” revealing hidden histories and relationships. He makes objects, installations, and pilgrim-like journeys which present him with an array of ideas. His interest is in transforming one object into another. He is more interested in the process that goes into the work of art than the end product.

For Tabemas Desert Run in 2004 the artist crossed a Spanish desert on an improvised electric bicycle. Water was the only waste product which was produced and he used that in a painting.

He is always mindful of the commercial exploitation of natural sources.

In 2005 he produced ‘Shedboatshed’ this was a dismantled shed made into a boat and filled with the sheds contents. The boat sailed down the Rhine and the shed was reassembled in a museum. Shedboatshed is seen as the artist’s comment on mass production and capitalism.

There are many meanings that we draw from his work. It is probably about Global economics, the balance of diplomacy between East and West. The message is clear that Asia’s economic power will overtake the money markets of Europe and we will all be powerless to stop it.

Simon Starling’s works have been exhibited world wide. His work is in the permanent collections of museums such as, Tate Modern, London, Guggenheim, New York, Museum of Modern Art Sydney. Alongside icons like Francis Bacon his exhibits have made a mark on the art world. His work weaves, eccentric, transformative stories from familiar objects, translating them, from one language, one state of being to another. There are transitions from modernism to mass production, collectable to disposable. Starling seizes upon everything and this makes his work exciting and magical.