2023, acrylic and enamel paint, corrugated iron.
Studio assistance: Miri Badger, Kate Halling, and Jack Hardy.
‘Drawing inspiration from the murals that decorate the walls of temples and palaces in India, Simpson’s seven-panel painting presents a panoramic view of a sugarcane plantation. Executed in the style of traditional Indian miniature painting, the landscape is notably devoid of people. Human presence is suggested only through the use of weathered corrugated iron sheets, a nod to the makeshift barracks that housed plantation labourers. The use of enamel paint in Simpson’s work references the Indian enamelware commonly used for cooking and tableware, signifying the daily activities of women within this diasporic community.
Against this rusted iron backdrop, the light, bright greens of the striped sugarcanes and their grassy shoots stand out in high relief. Leaving significant areas untouched, Simpson directs our attention to what we cannot see – to the invisible and forgotten histories in the landscape.’
Text by Sarah Wall (PICA).