Simon Back“Beyond Before”

These new works uphold Back’s signature style, in which abstract forms and gestural strokes are overlain with planes of white or colour. Figures emerge from backgrounds or become obscured and ambiguous, leaving the viewer to examine and discover the value of every piece of space.  

Matter Gallery is pleased to present, “Beyond Before” featuring abstract paintings and paper-based artworks by Zimbabwean born contemporary artist, Simon Back. 

These new works uphold Back’s signature style, in which abstract forms and gestural strokes are overlain with planes of white or colour. Figures emerge from backgrounds or become obscured and ambiguous, leaving the viewer to examine and discover the value of every piece of space.  

While Simon Back’s influences from Western art movements have ranged from the Abstract Expressionists of the 1950’s to the work of Joseph Beuys, his primary influence has been the environment of his youth. “Beyond Before” continues recurring themes of memory, concealment and lived childhood experience set in the deceptively calm expansiveness of the African landscape in a world of hostility brought on by the Zimbabwean civil war.   

After studying Fine Art in Cape Town, Simon Back returned to Zimbabwe to teach art while developing his own evolving visual.  He currently lives in Mauritius and exhibits globally.  Simon Back’s work is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, as well as in private collections throughout the world.