Olivier Simon
"A nomadic eye in search of humanity"
Born in 1961 in France, Olivier Simon is a visual artist and a storyteller. Initially an illustrator, then art and creative director in the world of advertising, he has always sought to capture the essence of things, to make us see differently. But it's outside the box that his art truly comes to life.
An adventurer at heart, he roams the wilderness with insatiable curiosity, driven by a passion for movement and discovery. On his bike in Madagascar, he cycled to the rhythm of encounters, exchanging smiles and stories with the locals. In the Burmese jungle, he shared the daily lives of men working alongside elephants.
In the vastness of the Altai mountains, he went horseback riding alongside Kazakh hunters, witnessing the silent dance of eagles swooping down on their prey. And during the Tsaatan autumn migration in Mongolia, he guided the reindeer, camera in hand, reflecting on those suspended moments when man and animal move forward together.
Every journey is an encounter, every encounter is a story, and it's in these fragments of life that Olivier anchors his work. For him, photography is a dialogue—an exchange where light becomes language, where the gaze becomes a bridge between cultures. Originally a keen analog photographer, he has gradually fused image and painting, developing a singular style at the crossroads of art and ethnography.
His work is exhibited here and elsewhere, but it is on the ground, at the heart of the captured looks, that his true museum is found. Not much of a social media user, he prefers the warmth of a real exchange, the depth of a shared moment. Because, ultimately, what drives him is less the image than the human behind it.
H.delaval
About "Roots" exhibition
"The world is evolving at a fascinating pace, and this dynamic offers us many opportunities. Hybridity, while inevitable, is a true source of richness, allowing us to celebrate our origins while preserving the diversity of our cultures. As a 21st-century nomad, I have always been in search of my roots and those of humanity. The roots of others, both unique and shared, inspire and fascinate me. It's a wonderful feeling to feel connected to a collective memory.
As a visual artist, photography allows me to capture the beauty and pride of the men and women I meet. On my way back from a horseback migration with the Tsaatans, I was lucky enough to come across Tamir and his magnificent work on calligraphy. The idea of associating this Mongolian calligraphy with my images quickly occurred to me. Both writing and artistic expression, calligraphy thus becomes a beautiful representation of our common roots, enriching our collective
journey."
O. Simon
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