Bold, striped abstract paintings of simple ordinary objects like watches, high heels, trousers and jackets abound in the work of Berlin-based Raphaela Simon—images that create the atmosphere of a fictional village, brought to life with fabric, wood and wire sculptures which take on the role of characters in a picture book narrative you can walk through. The artist’s Erdbeeren (German for strawberries) is at Michael Werner gallery until 18 January. “In my paintings, I take an object and place it on the canvas to show its beauty and perhaps question what it actually is. Or even simply point out its existence.” Whimsical and nostalgic, colourful and beguiling, Simon suspends you in a story—even if just for a moment. “I’ve always liked Chardin’s 1761 painting, Basket of Wild Strawberries,” Simon says of this work. “Everybody likes strawberries, they disguise the seriousness of life. But their own life is very short. There is a tragedy to them. I personally do not like strawberries, but I like them as a decoration, with cream and on cake.”
