Simian Switch

Born, 15 January 1987 in Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Sammie, also known as Simian Switch, is a highly skilled illustrator and muralist hailing from the vibrant city of Dordrecht. With a passion for breathing life into public spaces through his art, Simian has dedicated himself to creating captivating murals. In September 2016 he expanded this dedication by organizing inspiring projects within his community under the project name, Iconoclash.
His artistic journey began in the early 2000s, but it was six years ago, in 2016, that he wholeheartedly embraced his craft. The rich artistic heritage of Dordrecht, also known for its infamous and iconic style writers, served as a wellspring of inspiration and profoundly influenced Simian’s techniques and artistic growth. Fuelled by an unwavering passion for craftsmanship, he expanded his repertoire beyond traditional graffiti, delving into acrylics, installations, and studio work, both in analog and digital formats.
Simian’s designs boast impressive scale and intricacy, showcasing his prowess in creating large- scale decors. His work seamlessly blends tribalism, symbolism, and elements of psychedelia, resulting in vivid, dreamlike but harsh landscapes or portraits. While his primary focus is on creating visually stunning compositions, a small percentage of his pieces carry a profound message or statement. Often juxtaposing paradoxical themes with a dark sense of humor, Sammie explores the complexities of human behavior but not always feels the need to implement this into the artworks.
His compositions draw inspiration from various sources, including comic culture, Art Nouveau and stereometry, masterfully blending abstract elements with concrete imagery. With meticulous attention to detail and a keen eye for line work, Simian’s creations exhibit mesmerizing fades and intricate slicing techniques.
Through his art, Simian aims to evoke a visual reaction to the surroundings, allowing his artwork to harmonize or dissonance with the structures and vibrant energy of the environment. Each stroke of his brush or spray can is carefully crafted to captivate and adorn, creating decorative artworks that leave a lasting impact.