During Unseen Amsterdam 2017, Theo Simpson (b. 1986, UK) was selected by an international jury as the recipient of the Outset | Unseen Exhibition Fund. Foam is proud to present his solo exhibition Part and Whole at Foam 3h.

Theo Simpson’s work stands out for its unique visual language, which combines photography with alternate forms of material expression such as sculpture and site-specific work. Simpson uses his own local landscape of Northern England as the starting point for an exploration of the dynamic interactions between ideologies, economies, industries and environments.

Materials, processes and technologies from the past and present are treated by Simpson as a way of opening up different fields of discovery, where new principles and methods of expression can be achieved. He often combines this with archival material he avidly collects, all of which is from different points of time and origins, such as instructional photography found in workshop manuals and reference books, advertisements, colour charts, data sheets and found imagery.

In his work, the artist creates a dialogue between the past and the present, reconsidering and reforming personal and cultural myths, dreams, losses and promises referring to the industrial past of his surroundings, opening up a space where a new dialogue can begin. His exhibition Part and Whole will feature a selection of his most recent works, a number of which will premiere at Foam.

Theo Simpson (b. 1986) lives and works in Lincolnshire, England and studied at the Sheffield Institute of Arts. His work has recently featured in the group show A Green and Pleasant Land, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne and in February 2017 his solo exhibition The land of the day before was shown at Webber Gallery, London. Simpson´s work is held in various international public collections including the V&A National Art Library, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Royal Institute of British Architects and the Tate Artists’ Book Library. His work will feature in the upcoming issue of Foam Magazine #49: Back to the Future. Theo Simpson is represented by Webber Gallery, London.

During the Unseen Amsterdam 2017 Theo Simpson was selected for the Outset | Unseen Exhibition Fund by an international curatorial committee. His exhibition at Foam is the result.