Taboo Fabrics
An Interview with Nathalie Rivera By Jevon Brown From as long as she can remember, Nathalie Rivera
If there is one word Nathalie uses to describe her
has always been drawn to art and to creating new
work, it’s Taboo. I asked her personally what she
things. Being in an art magnet program throughout
would like people to get from her art and she replied,
elementary, middle, and high school has allowed her
“I want people to be shocked; I want people to see that
to flourish as an artist. Now, as a junior in the Visual
social norms don’t always have to be conformed to.”
and Performing Arts Academy at Coral Reef High School, studying art two hours a day has allowed her to transform seemingly impossible ideas into reality. Among aspects that have influenced her work, her
“Art is very personal to the artist and reflects us and how we feel and interpret the world.”
exploration of patterning in India has made a major impact. “I’ve seen a lot of documentaries on how the
“Even today, women are not seen equal to men.
creation of patterning developed in India, and that has
My art is meant to showcase the beauty of the female
influenced the way I do my patterns. I use a natural
body and to empower all women alike.” Nathalie
process by creating my prints by hand instead of using
shares, “The fact that I show my work as nudes may be
machines.”
seen as objectifying; yet, I feel that it is emphasizing
Nathalie begins a new fabric piece by creating an
the empowerement of the female body, the producer
image of a female silhouette. Then, she transfers the
of life. It’s truly beautiful in its self and does not
image onto a linoleum plate, carves the image out of
deserve to be covered up.”
fabric, and creates a new pattern. “I don’t do a layout.
Her use of nude imagery is what makes her work
I just go with the motions of the design to create a
unconventional. It may be something that society
cohesive pattern.”
does not fully accept and embrace, but as Nathalie
She expressed her frustration with how the nude
has said, “My artistic outlook is to take risks and not
body of a woman is automatically deemed provocative
allow others to dictate what I should do in my art
and distasteful. According to Nathalie, the fabrics are
throughout life. Art is very personal to the artist and
supposed to be ironic. In showcasing nude images of
reflects us and how we feel and interpret the world. As
women on a cloth, supposedly created to “cover up”
an artist, I want to break down barriers that are placed
and prevent the exposure of their bodies, the purpose
around society in current day and live in a world
of the fabric is contradicted.
where I can create my own path in life.”
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