Lorna Simpson: ‘Who knew coronavirus would bring about a political change?’ New York artist living in the moment

Simpson continues to create despite being away from her studio in Brooklyn, and in Hong Kong show she explores painting, a medium to which she is still new

She highlights her art’s universality despite its past rejection by some for having an African-American perspective, and expects it to connect with Hongkongers

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American artist Lorna Simpson, whose first solo exhibition in China opened this week in Hong Kong. Photo: James Wang

Published: 7:15pm, 19 Jun 2020Updated: 7:15pm, 19 Jun 2020

“As an artist, I feel the emotional tenor of what it means to be alive right now, and man, is it a moment to be alive,” says artist Lorna Simpson.

“What’s also interesting about this moment in lockdown,” she says of the social isolation brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, “is that you don’t have the machine of economies at work. People don’t have to rush towards their jobs and responsibilities in the same way, and are given a moment to think and reflect.”

Lately that pause has given the world a moment to take note and respond to anti-racism protests that have escalated, particularly in the United States, says the 59-year-old artist, who is best known for her use of photography, collage and video to challenge conventional ideas of gender, cultural and racial identities.

“The driving force of capitalism is a distraction from real issues, keeping everyone in their routines. Who knew corona would bring about a political change?”

Lorna Simpson’s 2019 collage Nebulae Fig. Photo: Lorna Simpson

She is speaking from Los Angeles, away from her studio and home in Brooklyn, New York, and ahead of her first solo exhibition in China at the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Hong Kong.