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The Art of Simplicity


from Simon Kogan

How much do we need to see, in order to recognize?

Simon has a photo collection from his visit to Athens in the National Museum. Those sculptures left him very shaken. Looking at the one below. You see so little left, yet you still can feel the attitude coming from the figure. The detail is worn out, there are no parts left, no feet or head. But, you do not seem to need the finishing details of it. To Simon, the presence of this lady sitting was quite stunning! It is stunning to see how important, how proud that figure still was. Simon likes the worn-out details and the age and presence of time you can see.

Another example below was a sculpture that was restored. There is so much loss over time from being eaten away. But, again, just looking at it, Simon was practically speechless. Look how much pride, movement, and composition there is without finishing any particular movement or details. You can see this from both views of the sculpture. Although it is set up by the creators, it truly looks like there is a connection between the two sculptures even if they weren’t individually made to be that way.

Things like this own and invade the space they are in, even without detail. These have a presence and very little detail is needed. There is nothing much left on the surface, but you still know and feel what they are. Some of the most captivating and memorable pieces are those with minimal detail. These sculptures possess a unique ability to grab our attention and hold it, even without intricate embellishments. They achieve this by embracing the power of simplicity, allowing the viewer to engage with the essence of the form and the artist's vision.


Renowned sculptor and mentor, Simon Kogan, invites you to embark on a transformative journey of artistic growth and discovery through his exclusive mentoring course and immersive video series. Join him below: