Nate Lewis, Thrice, 2017
NATE LEWIS
Thrice, 2017
Part of the “Tensions and Tapestries” series
Hand-sculpted photo paper print; dimensions: 29in x 31in (framed)
Courtesy of the artist and Morton Fine Art
CURRENTLY ON VIEW: 2nd story lounge
Nate Lewis, a registered critical care nurse, prints his own photographic portraits on heavyweight paper and then uses self-invented tools resembling surgical instruments to make controlled tears in the paper. These marks are heavily influenced by anatomy, physiology, and disease pathology, stemming from his medical background. While the marks are tedious and mindful in their consistency, Lewis combines his various patterns in an intuitive way, and the end result calls to mind traditions of textile fabrication and etching. The marks appear both representative of the physical biology of people and also display a visceral understanding of the interconnectedness of bodily systems. Thrice is a portrait of a man caught seemingly mid-blink. It is one of the few works in which Lewis has abstracted the boundaries of his mark-making outside of the printed figure. Combined with the figure’s expression, this deviation from the silhouette suggests a transcendence beyond the tangible nature of illness and patient care. With Thrice, Lewis draws attention to the importance of incorporating mental health care into our health systems. The artist confronts our understanding of vulnerability and the dichotomy of stability and instability within our own lives and bodies.
Text written by Rachael Carruthers
Student Committee Selection 2016–2017
Adele H. Stamp Student Union—Center for Campus Life