Nathan Cohen Speech

Students listened intently and applauded with gratitude toward Nathan Cohen who gave a speech about his contemporary art on Thursday in Pullman.

There was a rare quiet in the moments before the artist took to the podium. Whereas coordinators warned that the student turnout for such an occasion as an artist’s speech would be sparse, the Fine Arts Auditorium was nearly full of professors and aspiring student artists. Whether or not the turnout was a result of sheer curiosity, or for class credit, the audience was nonetheless respectful while waiting for the guest. After being introduced, Nathan Cohen received not only applause but what felt to be genuine appreciation for his ideas. The speech was advertised as being his explanation for his new geometric art, but quickly became part of the bigger picture for all artists to relate to.

Cohen, who spent much of his childhood in New Mexico and has lived or traveled to endless locations worldwide to exhibit his art, credits his travels and the history of the world to his inspiration. “What drives us to make images?” Cohen said. The speech included personal photos of places such as Chaco Canyon, New Mexico and their relation to historical accounts of humankind's strive to record images. Our ancestors may have imagined Earth a certain way, but they couldn’t actually see it, and it’s important to see how they perceived it, Cohen said. The emphasis is placed on time and space for Cohen’s motivation, as well as attention to detail. “Our desire to create images transcends our human capabilities,” Cohen said.

Cohen’s attention to other artists’ attempts at detail and surfaces created inspiration for the three-dimensional geographical art Cohen is currently exploring. Surfaces can be evocative of memories, it is important to know how to make surfaces appear real, Cohen said. Other elements such as light and its importance on the change it makes in an image was also a technique Cohen is exploring. Cohen said he works closely with many scientists and engineers to conjoin new inventions such as invisibility-enabling cameras with images to create an entirely new look at the art represented.

The bright colors and intricate structure of Cohen’s pieces have received great appreciation and invitations to paint murals in locations such as Tokyo and Cuba. When asked what message Cohen tries to convey through his art, he modestly replies there isn’t one. “It’s not appropriate to hand people a perspective, they have the right to find their own,” Cohen said. Instead, Cohen said he has a rather optimistic view of his art in that he tries to create new perspectives for others and in return inspire others to create something else.

“I loved his photos, I had heard abut Cohen previously and his take on space and time is wonderful,” said Tamra Helm, an art professor at WSU. During Cohen’s speech not one audience member appeared to be disenchanted. Rather professors and students alike listened and received the speech as a lesson, an outside perspective that was not the self-praising of an artist, but the crediting to many other artists and experiences that give the artist the ability to convey art. “I like that he focused on the physicality of art, landscape, and the ancient arts,” said Garric Simonson, an art student at WSU. Cohen motivates other young artists to travel and find their own ideas to understand the endless possibilities of art. The photos you see can never justify the reality of a situation, Cohen said.

Sources:

Tamra Helm: 509-337-5367

Garric Simonson: garric_simonson@wsu.edu

Nathan Cohen: contact@nathancohen.co.uk