Marianna Simnett is an artist who refuses to be confined to one medium or theme. She challenges the expectations of her audience by constantly reinventing her practice, exploring filmmaking, sculpture, installation, painting, and performance. In a recent interview with Art Basel, she expressed the importance of shedding expectations and surprising viewers with each new project.
One of Simnett’s most captivating series is her collection of bronze crowns, created between 2022 and 2024. These intricate pieces are not meant to be worn, as they are cast in an alloy that would make them uncomfortable. Instead, they are displayed on bespoke velvet cushions, each crown featuring delicately formed arches, bands, and spikes that resemble various mammals and birds.
SOCIÉTÉ, the gallery representing Simnett, describes her work as a vivid exploration of the body as a site of transformation. Through psychologically charged pieces, she creates new worlds filled with untamed thoughts, strange tales, and desires. The crowns are named after powerful female figures from ancient mythology, such as Discordia and Lilith, embodying themes of power, ferocity, and sublimity.
Simnett first showcased these sculptures in her exhibition “OGRESS” in 2022, where she used the ogress as a symbol of radical force. By delving into fairy tales and folklore, she explored the role of women in myth and legend, highlighting the tension between embracing and fearing those who are different.
Her upcoming solo exhibition, “Charades,” opens at SOCIÉTÉ on May 1 during Berlin Gallery Weekend. This show will feature a diverse range of Simnett’s multimedia work, allowing viewers to experience the breadth of her artistic practice. To learn more about Marianna Simnett and her upcoming projects, visit her website and Instagram.
The bronze crowns created by Simnett are not only visually stunning but also carry deep symbolic meaning. Each piece represents a different aspect of femininity and power, drawing inspiration from ancient myths and legends. By combining elements of nature and mythology, Simnett’s crowns transcend mere adornment and become powerful symbols of female strength and resilience.
As you explore Simnett’s work, you will be drawn into a world where reality and fantasy intertwine, where the boundaries between human and animal blur. Her crowns invite viewers to question traditional notions of beauty and power, challenging them to see the world through a new lens. With each new project, Marianna Simnett continues to push the boundaries of art and creativity, creating work that is both thought-provoking and visually captivating.
