Marina Perez Simão

If Marina Perez Simão paints landscapes, then they’re landscapes from another world. Soft curves morph into impossible forms – like a sun sandwiched between two vertical mountains, or a sky full of waves. In fact, many of Perez Simão’s otherworldly environments are inspired by Brazil where “it doesn’t only rain, but it pours and it feels like the world is going to end”. Her paintings are an expression of the way a landscape can make you feel. By attempting to capture the sublime, Perez Simão shows how the world is transformed by our perception just as much as it is by the sun and rain.

Early on in her career, Perez Simão only used black and white. These days, her paintings are primarily swathes of lively oil paint on linen. You might think she has rebelled against her early practice, but that is far from the truth. Perez Simão has tremendous respect for colour. She will introduce a shade into her palette only once she feels she has a deep understanding and connection to it. She compares her practice to a ballet performance, finding freedom and fluidity in the restraint.