Episode 6 – Simon Denny

Show notes

NEW PODCAST EPISODE WITH SIMON DENNY In this episode, journalist Silke Hohmann sits down with Simon Denny, born in New Zealand in 1982. The internationally acclaimed artist explores complex contemporary issues, transforming them into multi-layered installations. His work spans sculpture, photography, painting, and NFTs. In 2015, he represented New Zealand at the 56th Venice Biennale.

Simon’s deep connection to Berlin dates back further than his nomination for the Preis der Nationalgalerie in 2013. He has lived in the city since graduating from the Städelschule.

Long before tech billionaires reached for political power, Simon was already interested in the people behind the technologies that shape our world. In 2017, he dedicated an exhibition in New Zealand to right-wing libertarian Peter Thiel — one of the most influential figures in U.S. politics — who even came to visit.

Simon’s upcoming exhibition in Berlin — on view from June 14 to 16, 2025 — will be his first with gallery Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler. Installed in the charged context of the JW Marriott Hotel, directly across from the Bendlerblock—home to Germany’s Ministry of Defense—the show presents machine-generated paintings exploring the connections between technology, business, and military systems in the U.S. and Germany.

In this episode, Simon Denny talks about his encounters with tech entrepreneurs, how making art helps him understand complex issues, and what distinguishes art from journalism.