– renowned artist, archaeologist, anthropologist
KNOWN for his unique paintings, George Simon was a renowned Guyanese artist, archaeologist and anthropologist. He was particularly known for his paintings which depicted and explored various aspects of Indigenous culture and the Guyanese environment.
Simon, an Arawak, was born on 23 April, 1947 in Pakuri/St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) and was considered one of Guyana’s most outstanding members and mentors of the Moving Circle of Artists (MCA), a collective of Guyanese Indigenous painters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists.
Earlier this week the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport held separate virtual exhibitions displaying Simon’s work as part of this year’s Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations.
LOVE FOR ART
After completing his secondary education at Christ Church Secondary School in Georgetown, Simon enrolled in the Fine Arts degree programme at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom (UK) in 1978. In 1994 he obtained a master’s degree in archaeology from the University College, London.
Simon’s art career began in 1985 with his first exposition on the Wai Wai nation. He also produced an Essequibo series of paintings. Simon’s paintings feature soft tones with subtle symbolism that invoked Indigenous culture, myths and spirituality.
He was credited for identifying the ancestry of Guyana’s first peoples stretching back more than 500 years. During his time in the land of the living, he was credited with forming the “Moving Circle” art exhibitions, while honing his skills as a muralist.
ARCHAEOLOGY
In 2011, Simon and a team of scientists made key discoveries on human settlements which might have existed in the Berbice area some 5000 years ago.
The team worked in the Berbice River community of Dubulay on what was called the Berbice Archaeology Project. Along with the late Neil Whitehead, a University of Wisconsin professor of anthropology, the works surrounded the archaeological excavation of a mound site at Dubulay and the exploration of raised fields in the savannahs in the middle of the Berbice River.
Their findings, which spanned years of research, were documented by Simon for future reference.
He later moved overseas to pursue further studies and other pursuits in the two fields until the time of his passing.
Murals, the product of Simon’s hard work, have been placed at various parts of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) terminal building.
On July 15, 2020, Simon parted with the world after a fight with cancer. The news of his passing sent shockwaves throughout the arts community as well as within archaeological circles.
Simon was viewed as one of the greatest Indigenous artists and archaeologists in Guyana’s history and his efforts were recognised in 1998 when the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement was bestowed upon him.
A great part of this continuing contribution was realised during his distinguished tenure at the University of Guyana. This partnership started humbly when he was recruited as a part-time lecturer in Art in the Division of Creative Arts.
He later served as a full member of the Faculty of Education and Humanities as lecturer in the Fine Arts and researcher in the Amerindian Research Unit, at one time being its coordinator.
