Simon Quendler, a Vienna-based conceptual painter and sculptor, is a pioneer of European reaction art. Instead of conventional oil or acrylic paints, he employs substances such as potassium sorbate, aluminum silicate, volcanic ash, and even alligator skin. These materials trigger complex chemical and biological reactions on the canvas, creating dynamic, evolving artworks.

Inspired by Renaissance pigment techniques, Quendler sees himself as both an artist and a scientist. His studio operates like a laboratory, where he studies how materials interact over time. Using a specialized photographic setup, he documents the continuous transformation of his paintings, revealing intricate structures and new visual patterns.

His process-based approach questions traditional painting methods and explores the relationship between art, nature, and resource consumption. His reaction paintings, which develop independently of the artist's direct intervention, are exhibited in international museums, auction houses, and galleries. By sealing the final state of his works, Quendler preserves a moment in time within an ongoing natural process—blurring the line between creation and decay.