Simone Monney - Swiss Artist and fashion lover, explores her project «metamorphosis and awakening of the senses» with a scented installation at palazzo Bembo at the Biennale of Venice.
Follow us and enjoy an inspiring afternoon in the artist's atelier and discover what By Adushka fashion inspired the artist to create
Swiss painter Simone Monney creates artworks with elegance and ease. Her expressive paintings, with bold colors and mesmerising strokes, grant her exposure on the international art scene. From 23. April to 27.Nov. 2022 she explores her latest project "metamorphosis and awakening of the senses" with an scented installation at palazzo Bembo at the Biennale of Venice with which she wishes to initiate an intuitive journey that awakens immediate sensations such as memories, magical places in nature, positive emotions, well-being, etc. This multi-sensory project stimulates the viewer to experience the perception of the senses combined with art.
The idea of creating a perfume inspired by her works has always been a dream. This perfume creation impacts the viewer in a unique way that will enhance the perception of her works.
Simone chose butterflies for her scent installation because they represent the symbol of change. In some cultures, they act as guides and messengers of the gods. Watching butterflies dance in the air or fly from flower to flower has always been exquisite. Butterflies represent a kind of spiritual rebirth. They initiate creativity and joy. The search for existential fulfillment has been reinforced during this time of pandemic. Back to nature, which brings us back to childhood through primary senses such as smell, touch, feeling and sight.
«When the energy and dynamics of an art work is transmitted to the observer and emotionally involves him or her, art becomes love, and the art work becomes a passion»
With this project entitled “metamorphosis” Simone would like to initiate an intuitive journey that awakens immediate sensations such as memories, magical places in nature, positive emotions, well-being, etc. This multisensory project stimulates the viewer to experience the perception of the senses combined with art. Simone professional background and knowledge in the perfume industry initiated the idea to create a perfume inspired by her artworks.This fragrance creation impacts the viewer in a unique manner which will strengthen the perception of her artworks.Simone has chosen butterflies for her olfactory installation as they represent the symbol of change. In some cultures, they act as guides and messengers of the gods. Watching butterflies dance in the air or fly from flower to flower has always been exquisite. They possess such an enchanting presence that they never fail to lighten anyone’s mood. Butterflies represent a sort of spiritual rebirth. They initiate creativity and joy.The search for existential wholeness has been reinforced during this period of the pandemic. Going back to nature, which brings us back to childhood through primary senses like smell, touch, feel and see.
Some questions from Karin Kämpf to our Friend and Award winning Painter Simone Monney
Karin: What is your connection to Karin and By Adushka, tell us the story of how you me?
Simone: I met Karin during a pop-up event in the hotel Beau Rivage in Geneva. It was like we knew each other since ever, our immediate creative sharing was amazing. We stayed in contact after that event, and here we are for our next projects together.
Karin: How did you shift from Graphic Designer to a painter, what prompted you to start your art project ?
Simone: After the Birth of my daughter, 17 years ago, I realised that I could no longer assume so much stress and pressure at work and I decided to stop working for 6 months. But my creative character did not really rest, I started to paint quite immediately as the view on the lake Léman from our home in Bursinel /VD at that time was so amazing. These lake views I had to translate into my paintings. After I created a whole abstract lake view collection, I decided to organise an opening with friends and clients from my former job. There was no painting left, I’ve sold everything….and then, as we say, that was a sign…since then I paint 100% and quite quickly I started to exhibit abroad like the US, Singapore, Paris, etc etc. Now I use my graphic designer skills in my pop art series as well as my abstract plexiglas art works.
Karin: You will soon expose your next project metamorphosis at the Biennale in Venice, tell us more about your project. What was your initial inspiration for this installation?
Simone: This up coming exhibition will be an amazing experience for me. I decided to participate just before the pandemic. This pandemic made me think a lot. I feel the world is going through a metamorphose. I sincerely hope it will be for the better. This pandemic brought us back to nature and our inner being. So firstly, I was going to create a «sensory room» which initiate the viewer to awake his 5 senses. But budget-wise I had to reduce my first idea and I decided to create an «olfactory» installation. Which is combining our senses of smelling and art. This installation is combined with 5000 butterflies, fragranced with my personal perfume, created in Grasse, and my artwork créations inspired by this «lightness of being» and metamorphic ambiance of the butterflies. Just a short explanation, I worked in the perfum industry for 20 years, and perfumes are my passion. My job as a graphic designer was to visualize perfumes, new trends and concepts for clients, who wanted to create their future perfumes (like Estée Lauder, Thommy Hilfiger, etc etc).
Karin: What influence your creative process?
Simone: My first approach in front of a canvas is inspired by music. I quite often listen to Hans Zimmer, but that depends on my mood. The colors I choose, are inspired by many things, it can be whilst I walk through the forest nearby my home, or being on the lake before I go to the atelier, but also simply going through a fashion magazine. I am very sensitive to colors and specially that they match together. My project in Venise, inspired my latest approaches also very much. I try to create some kind of «lightness» in my artworks.
Karin: What is your sensory experience of where you live/work? Can you share a touch, taste, smell, look and sound…
Simone: My first sensory experience is mostly nature, that means smell, sound and touch, I am so happy to live next to the woods and only 10 minutes from the Lake Léman.
Karin: A favorite meal you like to cook for your loved ones?
Simone: A vegetable curry
Karin: A daily ritual that keeps you grounded?
Simone: Sport (Yoga and Pilates) and Meditation
Karin: Any books you are currently reading/music you are listening to?
Simone: I am not a big book reader, as all my free time is spent in my creative being. But music is very important to me, as I am coming from a musical family. My son is creating film music with his band, and I am quite implicated in these projects. That also explains why I love Hans Zimmer for my paintings. Have you ever realised how important the music is in a film? without that there is no emotions.
Karin: A wish for the next generation?
Simone: Happiness, lightness of being and a world without corruption.
Karin: A sentimental piece of clothing?
Simone: My woolen Jacket I bought from by Adushka.
Karin: A prized possession from your travels? A ceramic, talisman, beauty product, textile, object, artwork...
Simone: Quite often I bring back textile, as I can insert it in my paintings.
Karin:A recent traveling experience/place/next destination...
Simone: New York before the pandemic, what an inspiring city. My next trip is hopefully Oman.
