Simon Cardwell is an Adelaide-born, Sydney-based visual artist working in the medium of photography. He uses dramatic images of flowers in landscapes to portray and explore human perceptions, emotions and identity in conditions of both freedom and isolation.

Simon’s work starts within the traditions of photography and branches out to a more manipulated and painterly concept of placement, colour, and design. His candidly surrealist methodology then manipulates beautifully rendered arrangements of botanic art or nature-morte into serene meditations via which we ponder and experience essential stillness, the quietude of primary existence, of simple or simply being, within the solace of the self.

Simon’s latest series, Temple Of Flora, is an exploration into symbols; metaphors crafting surreal imagery that revitalise modern myths. Drawing from the beauty of botanicals and birds, Simon’s work serves as a vessel for both ancient allegories and contemporary narratives.

Says Simon of his practice: “Symbols, with their weight of human experiences, deciphering their language and bridging the past with our collective consciousness, have long fascinated me. Metaphor enriches my work, blending the known and unknown, inviting viewers to explore figurative and abstract realms of understanding. The inclusion of botanicals and birds adds a visceral dimension, connecting the earthly with the celestial. Flora symbolises growth and resilience, while birds evoke notions of freedom and transcendence, guiding viewers on introspective journeys.

“Ultimately, my artistic pursuit is a quest for understanding, reaching for the intangible and celebrating creativity’s ability to forge connections across time. I invite you to embark on an enchanting voyage through my surreal depictions, where reality and imagination entwine in dreams and revelations.”