Bio:
Simon Zhang is living and working in Toronto, Canada. He has held a number of solo exhibitions and has participated in many group shows and art fairs in Canada, Germany and China. His artworks are in private collections by patrons from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the USA, and have also been auctioned by Neumeister in Germany, 2011. Simon has a diploma in environmental design from the Ontario College of Art and Design and a B.A. degree in stage design from Shanghai, China, and has worked as a designer in the international architectural / interior design firms in Toronto and Hong Kong for decades. Currently, he is working as a full-time artist. 
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​AUCTIONS:
  • An oil painting was auctioned by Neumeister, Germany, 2011
 
​EXHIBITION LIST IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST       
About Simon's Work​:
Art has always been a reflection of the delicate interplay between chaos and control, spontaneity and structure. Through years of dedicated exploration, Simon has developed a unique methodology that embodies this dynamic tension—one call the Paralleled Process. This three-stage technique, rooted in the interplay of ink, rice paper, and acrylic, serves as both the foundation and the vehicle for his artistic expression. It is a method of discovery, one that invites both artist and viewer to embrace the unexpected and engage deeply with the layered complexities of the creative process.
  • The Paralleled Process: An Anatomy of Creation
At its core, the Paralleled Process consists of three interconnected stages: Two Surfaces, Selections, and Merge. Each phase is as vital to the final composition as the next, embodying a balance between spontaneity and deliberation.
In the first stage, Two Surfaces, Simon prepares the acrylic base on canvas and creates ink patterns on rice paper. This is a spontaneous act—gestural, impulsive, and entirely intuitive. The canvas becomes a field of bold colour and texture, while the rice paper acts as a counterpoint, a repository of fluid, organic forms. These parallel creations are born independently, yet they are destined to intersect.
The second stage, Selections, introduces a moment of deliberation. From the inked rice paper, he select fragments—tearing, shaping, and sculpting them into forms that resonate with the canvas. These fragments are more than mere components; they are choices, imbued with intention and shaped by the dialogue between the artist's hand and the emerging work.
Finally, the Merge occurs. The selected pieces of rice paper are collaged onto the canvas, creating a meeting point where ink and acrylic collide, mingle, and fuse. The process is one of discovery, as unexpected beauty and drama emerge from the interplay of elements. The weight of brushstrokes, the movement of lines, and the intensity of textures and colours all coalesce into a single, cohesive whole.
  • The Dance Between Impulse and Control
What makes the Paralleled Process unique is its embrace of duality. Each painting becomes a negotiation between subconscious impulse and conscious thought, between action and meditation. The initial vitality of the painterly elements—raw, emotive, and unrestrained—is preserved, yet the work is also carefully structured and controlled. This requires a state of mind akin to Zen, where balance is achieved not by suppressing spontaneity, but by allowing it to coexist with contemplation. In this way, the process becomes as much about the act of creation as the final product. It is a journey through opposing forces: freedom and discipline, chaos and order, intuition and intellect.
  • Nature as Muse
The natural world serves as my wellspring of inspiration. The atmosphere, mood, movement, and forms found in the surrounding environment deeply inform my work. Elements such as light, colour, and even sound become stimuli that channel emotions and ideas onto the canvas. Yet, these inspirations are not reproduced literally; instead, they are transformed through the lens of the Paralleled Process. By abstracting the essence of these natural phenomena, Simon strives to create paintings that resonate on an emotional and intellectual level. Each piece becomes an exploration—a starting point for new discoveries and a testament to the ever-changing interplay between the external world and the inner self.
  • Toward a New Expressive Language
Through this approach, Simon aims to be both free and methodical, expressive and measured. The Paralleled Process allows him to push the boundaries of traditional techniques, creating works that are as much about the process of making as they are about the final image. Each painting is an invitation—a space where viewers can engage with the tension and harmony of colliding elements, finding their own meanings in the interplay of textures, colours, and forms. In this way, the work transcends the boundaries of medium and method, becoming a shared experience that connects artist, viewer, and the world around us.The journey of creating art through the Paralleled Process is one of constant evolution. It is a practice rooted in exploration, balance, and the embrace of the unexpected. Each work is not an end but a beginning—a testament to the infinite possibilities of art and the boundless potential of human expression.