Nathan's Artist Lookbook (2020)

synthesis NATHAN

Title: elevate Medium: PVC pipe coated with Black 2.0; suspended by fishing line Size: 152.4 x 152.4 x 152.4 cm Intention: 3 interlocked frames have been raised to create an illusory display, where the complete coverage of black reduces the 3D object into lines. This relates to the representation of perfection suggested by the geometrical base similar to that of an icosahedron and a dodecahedron: polyhedra with repeated congruent faces. The sculpture’s hollow nature both suggests a partial manifestation of perfection in a more solidified form, but also furthers the immateriality or impossibility of this achievement.

synthesis NATHAN

Title: rational Medium: Sculpture (gessoed paper on concrete blocks) Size: 22.86 x 50.80 x 49.53 cm Intention: Through the representation of a traditional board breaking setup, the piece is analogous to the process of rationalizing emotional adversity. I drew inspiration from Topographies by Snarkitecture: a collection of posters which show topographical layers made by ripped paper. This inspired me to use layers of ripped paper that exaggerated the effort required to break each board. Each board acts as a placeholder for adversities that have been dealt with or remain to be resolved.

synthesis NATHAN

Title: immobility Medium: Sculpture (Gessoed cardboard on chair base) Size: 80.05 x 90.15 x 100.00 cm Intention: Sculpture seemed to be a fitting medium to physically manifest emotional adversity that has yet to be rationalized. Inspired by tetrapodal breakwaters as immovable objects, the embedding of this obstacle into the chair base inhibits its normal function. There is a contrast between a personal, household environment with the industrial, suggesting a struggle to contain any emotional content. This is furthered by imbuing organic quality into how the tetrapod corrodes the texture of the chair.

synthesis NATHAN

Title: nucleic Medium: Printed vector graphic Size: 91.44 x 182.88 cm Intention: Abstracting the idea of a nuclear family, individual characters form geometric cells inside a virtual environment.

Different mitotic stages are expressed suggesting varying tolerances of conflict across each unit. Using this metaphor, the digital representation aims to objectively demonstrate the fluidity of interpersonal relationships. The inorganic nature of the cells and the print medium contrast the variability of the subject, reflecting this struggle in defining how such relationships work.

synthesis NATHAN

Title: determinism Medium: Collection of printed vector graphics Size: 118.11 x 149.86 cm Intention: Icons are organized systematically, emulating a pictorial language. As individual units, the icons lack detail suggesting a need to decode the significance of each image. Conversely, the composition as a whole elicits uniformity through the reduction of colours and shapes. This contrast is analogous to the stifling nature of categorization in social interactions: by analyzing the work as components, there is a focus on superficial meaning rather than seeing an overarching monotony of the system.

synthesis NATHAN

Title: cave Medium: Animated vector graphic (displayed through Google Cardboard VR) Size: 7200 x 3600 pixels, 47 second clip looped for duration of exhibit

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synthesis NATHAN

Intention: The piece models Plato’s allegory of the cave, reflecting how sensory perception is flawed in understanding the world around us. The frequent glitches of the video parallel the uncertainty of how symbols objectively represent abstract ideas and knowledge; the choice of symbols is important to avoid cliche or misinterpretation of information. The chaotic instances in the video contrast the precise forms created by digital graphics software, attempting to question the objectivity of this piece.