Philip Simmons
Sculptor
Artist Statement
Sculpture:
In my series of sculpture made of resin, metal, and vinyl, I draw on pop sources and the news media to comment on American culture. One of the themes that unifies this work is a nostalgia for a mythic golden age in American society that was created on television and in the movies. In this media landscape, cowboys and astronauts occupy the same cultural space. Some of these pieces start with an iconic image I find on the internet. The humor in some of the work comes from acknowledging the simplicity of that innocent viewpoint.
Drawings:
The drawings are inspired by contemporary and classical theories in math, science, and philosophy, including particle physics, cosmology, and string theory. Scientists and theorists have recently made significant strides towards understanding the fundamental structure of the universe, however, the fundamental truths remain elusive and difficult to prove. I see relationships between these ideas and the writings of David Hume, the 18th century skeptical philosopher who questioned our ability to know things with certainty, due to the fallibility of our human faculties.