We are very excited to announce Natalie Wesselius' upcoming solo show, Hi, I'm Not Here Right Now (and please don't leave me a message), April 21 - 24 in Toronto, Ontario. This show will include a ton of new work reflective of Natalie's style, experimenting with scale and colour. More info to come including details about the opening reception 👀
To make sure you know everything you need to about Natalie, we sent her some questions to get to know her a bit better.
SP: What do you love most about the work you've created?
NW: It's my own world that is untouched and unimaginable by anyone else; a dream world. And as a neurotic daydreamer, it materializes what sometimes feels dizzying. I can grasp complex emotions and memories while giving others an empathetic window into anxieties and mental illness. Physically, I love the size. The bigger the better.
SP: What's the one subject matter you are intimidated to explore in your practice?
Other peoples stories and feelings. My work has to do with the inability and impossibility to escape your own metaphysical world and that all truths within it come from the fact you perceive it, just you. To try and create work about someone else would only be reflecting how I perceive them rather than their perspective. There is also the political discussion of how much of a right do we have to speak for someone else's story.. I would only do it if it was relevant to me and/or important for me to tell that story. I think about this a lot when creating work that shares feelings about me and my mom's relationship. You have to be careful that you are not using someone's trauma for personal artistic gain and respect privacy. Painting is great for this because I don't need to use words, you just get the feeling that sometimes life ain't fair.
SP: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being in the womb. Or not caring about anything at all.
SP: What is your greatest extravagance?
These knee high leather square toed chunky heeled boots from Miista, made in Portugal. No regrets.
SP: What makes you stop and look at a work of art?
Art that shows pain.
SP: What makes you fall in love with a work of art?
Being able to relate to that specific pain.
SP: What do you consider the most overrated subject matter in art?
Contemporary Conceptual Art.
SP: What talent would you most like to have?
Be able to speak multiple languages fluently so I could write some sick poetry and travel the world.
SP: How would you most like to die?
Quickly.
Check out more of Natalie's work HERE and make sure to join us for her upcoming show Hi, I'm Not Here Right Now (and please don't leave me a message) April 21 - 24 in Toronto.