Simon Linke
' The cover of 'Artforum' used as a metaphor for the three stages of male development, with papier maché as Id, acrylic and PVA as Ego and oil as Superego (Can Can Version)'

Papier maché, acrylic, PVA and oil on linen
91.5 x 91.5; 91.5 x 91.5; 91.5 x 91.5 cm

Simon Linke was born in 1958. He studied at St. Martins School of Art 1977-81, the Royal College of Art 1983 and Goldsmiths' College 1985-86. His first one-person exhibition was at Grey Art Gallery New York 1985-86; others have included Lisson Gallery 1987 (with Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York), 1990 and 1996; Galleria Franz Paludetto Turin 1991; Michael Janssen Gallery Köln 1999 and One in the Other London 2000 and 2001. Recent group shows include 'The Magic of Numbers' Staatsgalerie Stuttgart 1997, 'Art Crazy Nation' Milton Keynes Gallery 2001 and 'Painting as a Foreign Language' Sao Paulo 2002.

"The bits of me that don’t work properly can be corrected by making pictures.

Being my mum's son made me feel that I was the best. The realisation that I am not the omnipotent godlike figure generated by this doting is such an affront it drives me into mad fantasies about my genius level. Who I am and who I want to be just won't co-exist in the same universe.

'Artforum' is like a metaphor for the repository of all the information you would ever need to be an artist. It's the promise of salvation and adoration through recognition. Just by being mentioned you can become the focus of so many. Even if it's just for a short time the acknowledgement of the special nature of your subjectivity becomes the passport to a world of recognition and respect. And in that recognition lies the possibility of reversing the horror of the absence of unconditional love in the adult world and a return to a childlike state of bliss where just the existence of subjectivity confers love.

Most men are spoiled."