ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am a transdisciplinary artist exploring the human condition through the staging of language. Inspired by my journeys in extreme environments, I developed the concept of Philagnosty — the love of the unknown —, which stands at the heart of my practice. I create thematic cycles where video, performance, installation, sound, and text enter into dialogue. Through these hybrid narratives and immersive experiences, I invite audiences to encounter art as a space of memory, transformation, and freedom.
BIOGRAPHY
Agathe Simon is a French artist, researcher, and mentor, born in 1977. An explorer of extreme environments (Antarctica, the Andes, and Ayahuasca rituals) and inventor of the concept of Philagnosty — the love of the unknown —, she develops a transdisciplinary practice in which the staging of language questions the creative act and the human experience.
Supported by major French public and cultural institutions (CNC, DRAC, ADAGP), her projects have been presented in notable institutions and international events, including the Venice Architecture Biennale, Esch2022 European Capital of Culture (Luxembourg), Galerie Michel Journiac (Paris), Night of Ideas at Villa Albertine (United States), and the Maison de la Poésie (Paris). She has notably been an artist-in-residence at the Bogliasco Foundation (Italy), the Cité internationale des arts (Paris), and the Carlini Base in Antarctica.
Extending her artistic practice, she conducts research on the creative process within the ACTE Institute at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. She is the founder and head of the Film Workshops at Sorbonne University. Trained at the Documentary Workshop of La Fémis (France’s national film school), she holds doctorates in French literature (Sorbonne University) and in music (Paris Conservatory, CNSMDP). She lives and creates between Normandy and Paris.
Recent activities
Agathe Simon has recently presented her projects at the XVIII International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Michel Journiac gallery in Paris, Esch2022 – European Capital of Culture in Luxembourg, ‘Visions du Réel’ film market in Nyon, Switzerland, Bogotá Experimental Film Festival in Colombia, ‘La Fabrique’ art center in Montreuil, Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine in Paris and the Night of Ideas organized by Villa Albertine in Chicago. She has recently received grants from the CNC (French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image), the DRAC Île-de-France – French Ministry of Culture and the ADAGP.
As a researcher, she has recently given lectures and masterclasses at Sorbonne university (Paris 4), Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne university, Reims Champagne Ardenne university and Paris-Saclay university. She has published in the journals Design Arts Médias and #1257 of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. She was invited by Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne university for its new podcast.
Since 2014
Simon’ films and videos have been shown at ‘La Fabrique’ Art Center, Montreuil, France, and the Bogotá Experimental Film Festival, Colombia (2023) ; at Esch2022, European Capital of Culture (2022); at the festival ‘Les Festives’ of Sorbonne University (2021); at the Museum of Non-Conformist Art in St. Petersburg, Russia (2020, 2017 & 2015); at the International Museum Day and at the alternative venue ‘Les Frigos’ (2019) ; at the ‘Cité Internationale des Arts’ gallery in Paris, France, at the CDG Gallery in Rabat, Morocco, as well as at Audiorama & MDT in Stockholm, Sweden (2015); at the French Institutes of Algiers, Constantine, Tlemcen, and Oran (Algeria), at the Nocturne Art Festival in Halifax, Canada, and at the Cinema ‘Sala del Bicentenario’ in Antarctica (2014).
Her individual and collective performances have been presented at: the Michel Journiac gallery, Paris, France (2024 & 2023); the Paris’ Poetry Center, France (2020); the alternative art venue Les Frigos, Paris, France (2019); the alternative art venue La Générale, Paris, France; the Paris University, France (2018); La Générale, Paris, France; the Museum of Non-conformist Art, Saint Petersburg, Russia; University of Aix-Marseille, France (2017); CY Cergy Paris Université, France; the Concordia base, Antarctica (2016); the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France; the French Institute of Fès, Morocco; the Trocadero Library, Paris, France; the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France; Audiorama & Modern Dance Theater, Stockholm, Sweden (2015); ‘Canal Algérie’ TV, Algiers, Algeria; French Institute of Algiers, Algeria; Visby International Centre for Composers, Sweden;and the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative, Halifax, Canada (2014).
Simon has participated in various group shows, including: the Transpositions III biennale, Museum of Non-conformist Art, Saint Petersburg, Russia (2020); Year 1, La Générale, Paris, France; the Eve’s Rib art festival, Saint Petersburg, Russia (2019); Il Suono in Mostra, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Udine, Italy (2018); Digit & Rose, Museum of Non-conformist Art, Saint Petersburg, Russia; Transpositions II, Museum of Non-conformist Art, Saint Petersburg, Russia (2017); Transpositions, Museum of Non-conformist Art, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Zaman/Time, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France; Arrêts sur mémoires, Gallery CDG, Rabat, Morocco; P.R.N., Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France (2015), and the ‘Nocturne Halifax’ Art Festival, Halifax, Canada (2014). She has also had solo exhibitions including: Audiorama & MDT, Stockholm, Sweden; MMP, Paris, France (2015); French Institute of Algiers, Algeria, and the Art and History Museum of Tlemcen, Algeria (2014).
Simon has gotten grants from ADAGP and CNC – French Ministry of Culture, France (2024); DRAC Île-de-France – French Ministry of Culture, France (2022 & 2020); the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Sweden (2020); the Paris-Seine University, France (2019); the French Institute of Sweden (2015); the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Sweden; the French Institute of Argentina (2014), and the Kone Foundation, Finland (2011).
She has been selected for a number of art residencies, including: the Visby International Centre for Composers, Sweden (2024 & 2016), the CY Cergy Paris Université (2019-20); the “Pushkinskaya-10” Art Center, Saint Petersburg, Russia (2017, 2015 & 2013); the Atka Sailing Vessel, Greenland, Arctic (2016); EMS – Swedish Performing Arts Agency, Stockholm, Sweden (2015); the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France (2014-15); the Argentinian Government Residency Program, Carlini Base, Antarctica (2014); the USF International Artists Residencies, Bergen, Norway (2012); at the Valparaíso Fundacion, Mojácar, Spain (2012); the Yeonhui Art Center, Seoul, South Korea (2011); the Kone Foundation residency (2011); and the Bogliasco Foundation, Bogliasco, Italy (2009).