Artist Statement
By following the pathways set out in nature, Nathan works to rebuild connections between our natural spaces and our minds. To unlearn the processes of contemporary society and to overcome his own mental health challenges, he is looking to fully immerse himself in his surroundings by rewilding his mind and senses. Using photography as a connective tool for himself and his viewers, he then translates these observational details onto his favoured scratchboard medium.
Through his work and experiences with the animals he depicts, he hopes to challenge some of the myths, perceptions, and preconceptions surrounding wildlife. Stories and imagery are incredibly important, and our understanding and relationship with nature are often based on them. With the awareness that some of these species’ very existence is at stake in our current world, Nathan hopes to challenge harmful practices through representation, education, and his own rewilding process.
Biography
Nathan Cole is a visual artist, photographer, writer, and aspiring naturalist based in Toronto, Canada. Nathan’s practice is based on the exploration of the natural world, both physically and visually. By following the pathways set out in nature, he hopes to rebuild connections between our natural spaces and our minds. To unlearn the processes of contemporary society and to overcome his own mental health challenges, he is looking to fully immerse himself in his surroundings by rewilding his mind and senses. Using photography as a connective tool for himself and his viewers, he then translates these observational details onto his favoured scratchboard medium.
Through his work and experiences with the animals he depicts, he hopes to challenge some of the myths, perceptions, and preconceptions surrounding wildlife. Stories and imagery are incredibly important, and our understanding and relationship with nature are often based on them. With the awareness that some of these species’ very existence is at stake in our current world, Nathan hopes to challenge harmful practices through representation, education, and his own rewilding process.
Nathan’s work has been greatly informed and enhanced by international artist residencies and the incredible diversity of wildlife surrounding them. Nathan attended the Mauser EcoHouse artist residency in Costa Rica after winning the Nanci Christopher photography grant, participated in the Farm Studio residency in Rajasthan, India, and completed a residency at arte ventura in Spain. He has exhibited his work across North America and internationally, including in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Gallery, Zurich Main Station, and the John B. Aird Gallery in Toronto. Awards for his work include 3rd place for the Boynes Emerging Artist Award and a semi-finalist at ARTBOX.Projects Barcelona and Miami. In 2022, he was one of three finalists for the Breakthrough Artist Award given out by the Toronto Arts Foundation. His scratchboard work and photography have been published in ArtAscent and Murze Magazines. Nathan has a BFA from Western University in London, Canada. His work is partly funded through grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.
Contact
To buy original scratchboards:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/nathan-cole
To buy prints:
https://nathan-cole.pixels.com/
Social Media:
Instagram: @artist_ranger
@coletop10
Facebook: @ColeTop10art
Twitter: @ColeTop10