“You Must Change Your Life,” Five Images of the Holy by Nathan Fan
Nathan Fan is an artist and teacher. He lives in Dallas, TX.
www.instagram.com/nafan3
“The words that shape my artistic practice were spoken to me by my drawing professor Jon Puls; he told us that the world must be responded to. Early on, I found myself drawn to the extraordinary stories of those whom some call the saints. My images try to tell their story, but I also want to express the fullness of the great wrestling inside. How can you tell a saint apart from the rest of humanity? When you encounter a saint, you cannot help but be plagued by their story; it will be a constant interruption to your rhythm, until you give heed to their call—you must change your life. The lives of the saints, these grace-touched lives that proclaim a grace-filled world, demand a response from you.
“Ink became my preferred way of responding to the lives of saints because in the saints’ lives, the stark contrast between good and evil is revealed. I love using my pen like a sword to cut lines between black and white, watching a startling image emerge. My hope is to let these images draw in the viewer—turn their head—and give them something simultaneously alien and familiar to behold. I want these images to force you into a choice of how to respond.”
Click any image below to fit it to your screen.
“A New Thing”
“St. Joseph”
“To See the Lord”
“Heavenly Hosts”
“St. Monica”
