Simon Hitchens' 'Parallels' exhibition to open at Somerset Rural Life Museum

Somerset-based sculptor Simon Hitchens is opening a new exhibition at Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury, from 16 September to 2 December. The exhibition is curated by Freeny Yianni, Creative Director of CLOSE Ltd, a contemporary art gallery set in the grounds of Close House, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset. 

The exhibition, called ‘Parallels,' explores time and transience – the interconnected nature of what we share with the world. For three weeks, spanning the autumn equinox of 2019, Simon travelled the length of the British Isles, from latitude 50 in Cornwall to latitude 60 in Shetland. He was looking for rocks from eleven different geological time periods and to make drawings of the shadow lines cast by each rock at each of the eleven lines of latitude. Shadows cast from a twelfth object, a discarded lump of plastic, were drawn on a landfill site near London. Shadow sculptures complement the drawings. There will also be a large concrete sculpture, Bearing Witness to Things Unseen, on display in the museum’s Abbey Barn.

Hitchens says: “The British Isles have a rich and varied geology and include rocks which are among the oldest on the planet. Each day these rocks get a little older as we too get older. To be able to comprehend the deep time represented by the rocks is to a shine a light on our own short lifespan." 

Freeny Yianni from Close Ltd added: “This exhibition draws our attention to our living environment and how our planet functions. Simon’s remarkable drawings and sculpture are a poetic and thought-provoking artistic achievement that we can all appreciate and enjoy.”

Sarah Cox, Exhibitions Manager at Somerset Rural Life Museum said: “We are delighted to be hosting this thought-provoking new exhibition which explores our connection to the natural world through contemporary art. The sculpture and drawings on display will provide a striking counterpoint to the historic surrounding of Abbey Farm.” 

Simon is an Academician of the Royal West of England Academy and the fourth generation of his family to be an artist. His work has been exhibited around the world. Sculpture from Parallels is on display as part of this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023 (13 June – 20 August). Simon has worked on many large-scale public commissions, and is currently creating a monumental landmark sculpture which will stand 55 metres above Cold Law Hill in Northumberland titled Ascendant: The Elizabeth Landmark, a celebration of Queen Elizabeth II, her service to the country, and her lifelong dedication to The Commonwealth.