Simenta

Art is a particular form of communication. The meaning and message presented in a Painting influences people’s way of thinking and how they see the world and themselves. This is the basis for my work – awaken, in each person, the conscience/notion of himself/herself. We usually tend to point the finger at others and seldom consider what concerns each one of us.

In my paintings I put the viewer (voyeur) in the place of the person who observes him/herself from the outside. We are looking at ourselves without having the conscience of that. I represent characters in an intimate situation of everyday life, which frequently assumes a more profound meaning than a mere action. In these paintings we are confronted with a different but concrete reality, and led to thinking about our own actions.

Take, for instance, the painting where a woman is undressing in front of a window and is seen by another person (the voyeur/us). Are we the person who watches or the one who is being watched? Do we often observe (know) others? Do we like to be observed (known)? Do we really know ourselves and do we really allow ourselves to be known by others? How often do we show our true self to others? And do we really even know what that is? Aren’t we just a mere product of the society we live in?

H. Gleitman, in is book "Psychology", declares that people dedicate their lives to the management of the impression they give to others and that a great part of the social interaction works like a theatrical representation were we are mere actors embracing a character that has (very often) very little to do with the us. In my paintings I try to show the part of one’s personality that is not revealed. Restricted emotions and attitudes are here shown to others, invaded by those who play the role of voyeurs of the exposed lives.