“Richard Simpkin’s work is a true revelation. Obsessively having his photo taken with the celebrities of the world, he shows them almost to be puppets in his own game of charades. Knowing how difficult it is to get access to celebrities in this day and age, it is an awesome achievement, and turns his whole game into a compelling piece of art.” (Martin Parr, Guest Curator of Richard & Famous; Open Eye Gallery Liverpool UK. 13 Jan - 18 March 2012)
Since 1989 Richard Simpkin has been pursuing celebrities to have his photo taken with them, he started out as a regular star-struck teenager who quickly realised with a bit of persistence and some fast talking, he could build a collection that could beat all the other kids in the neighbourhood.
Over time Simpkin has redefined his project & his reasons for doing it, “when I first started it was just about going out and meeting famous people and getting their autograph, then in 1989 a fellow collector showed me a photo of her father with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, the photo was taken in New York’s Central Park in the 1970’s & I remember thinking at the time that her dad wasn’t famous but there he was sitting next to John Lennon who was one of the most famous people in the world, he will always be remembered & he is a part of history. I was only 15 at the time but that photo changed my life forever, so from that moment on I thought whenever I meet a celebrity I’m going to get my photo taken with them. I want to get my photo taken with those that are going to be remembered in history & if I could do that for a period of time I knew I would have something interesting to exhibit one day”.
In 2007 his second book Richard & Famous was published; a collection of the one hit wonders, wannabes and enduring legends of the past twenty years.
In this installation (exhibition) Simpkin’s project has evolved yet again, this time as an extended ‘self portrait’ presented in a contemporary art context.
This selection of photographs not only documents the famous but also Simpkin’s own journey; from fresh face teen to a man in his mid thirties. Without soft lighting & movie backdrops, his celebrities look slightly bewildered & a bit ordinary but basking in their reflected glory, Simpkin shines as the real Star.
Malcolm Smith – Australian Centre for Photography
Since 1989 Richard Simpkin has been pursuing celebrities to have his photo taken with them, he started out as a regular star-struck teenager who quickly realised with a bit of persistence and some fast talking, he could build a collection that could beat all the other kids in the neighbourhood.
Over time Simpkin has redefined his project & his reasons for doing it, “when I first started it was just about going out and meeting famous people and getting their autograph, then in 1989 a fellow collector showed me a photo of her father with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, the photo was taken in New York’s Central Park in the 1970’s & I remember thinking at the time that her dad wasn’t famous but there he was sitting next to John Lennon who was one of the most famous people in the world, he will always be remembered & he is a part of history. I was only 15 at the time but that photo changed my life forever, so from that moment on I thought whenever I meet a celebrity I’m going to get my photo taken with them. I want to get my photo taken with those that are going to be remembered in history & if I could do that for a period of time I knew I would have something interesting to exhibit one day”.
In 2007 his second book Richard & Famous was published; a collection of the one hit wonders, wannabes and enduring legends of the past twenty years.
In this installation (exhibition) Simpkin’s project has evolved yet again, this time as an extended ‘self portrait’ presented in a contemporary art context.
This selection of photographs not only documents the famous but also Simpkin’s own journey; from fresh face teen to a man in his mid thirties. Without soft lighting & movie backdrops, his celebrities look slightly bewildered & a bit ordinary but basking in their reflected glory, Simpkin shines as the real Star.
Malcolm Smith – Australian Centre for Photography
