Artist's Statement

From the book "A Way of Seeing", first published in 1997.

In 1987 while still a fashion photographer, I decided to go to Australia's Northern Territory, base myself in Darwin and photograph the land and its people - namely the Aborigines.

However, I had no idea of the metamorphosis that was change my whole perception and goals as a photographer, Idling away one afternoon in a book shop in Darwin, I stumbled across the work of a turn of the century photographer come anthropologist called Baldwin Spencer, and something deep inside me click.

Yes, growing up for twenty-four years in Mauritius had tuned me into the beauty of light, shape and from. It has also given me a love of the colour black. But it was the noble and unprejudiced way the black man was portrayed in Spencer's photographic records that I found so inspirational.

A month later and after many adventures with the Aborigines, I returned to London with a set of black and white photographs that were to change me and my photographic aspirations for ever. Various exhibitions down the line, and most importantly the encouragement of my peers, cast in stone my determination to continue on this tangent on black and white journey to the places with evocative names like Cuba, Mali, Namibia, Australia, New Mexico, Mauritius, Madagascar, Chile, Easter Island and many other adventures.

And as I look back over these last years I can see of cohesive link between all the images I have captured (and some that I have lost), and it is my way of seeing.

Artist's Bio

Award winning photographer Chris Simpson's journeys have always sounded exotic from the names of the places he has chosen to visit, and each time he has returned with such evocative images that many have become instantly unforgettable.

Born in Zurich in 1952 to a Russian/Bulgarian Mother & an Australian Father, Chris grew up on the Island of Mauritius. In such a beautiful tropical place, it was inevitable that, from an early age, Simpson's unique way of seeing was saturated with a profound appreciation of the sculptural qualities of light, form and colour.

He went on to study Art & Photography in London before embarking on a career initially as a Fashion Photographer. In 1991, after nearly 20 years photographing beautiful people, Chris decided to change the direction of his work and instead began to develop a reputation as location Advertising photographer. After ten years of shooting Award winning Campaigns he now concentrates on producing beautiful limited edition prints which are highly sought after by both Corporate and private clients.

Chris's work is regularly exhibited and he has won many Awards. In 2005 he was made Hasselblad Master, and his work is held in major corporate collections around the world.

VITA BREVIS...ARS LONGA

Life is Short...Art is Long