The power of a reflection is unparalleled. This is the only time we get to really look at ourselves, our faces, as our eyes cannot see our eyes. Many times we look in the mirror and do not see ourselves, we see an ideal and that is dangerous. We live our whole lives looking for an identity externally before finding the courage to look at ourselves internally. We have to face the UGLY before we can begin to define the beautiful. We have to face ourselves. These aren’t paintings, they are objective reflections - someone else’s mirror. It’s not easy for us as humans to admit our own fear but so much easier to admit that everyone tends to get afraid. The face is the truth | face the truth
Artist Bio:
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica to a shopkeeper and an auto mechanic in 1993, Richard Nattoo has always had an interest in colour, texture, form and shape. Lacking positive outlets for expression in his community, Richard was very guarded about his love of art. He quietly studied various influences, resulting in a style all his own.
As a recent graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Technology Jamaica, Richard Nattoo uses his acquired competencies to bolster his work in a way little seen in the local art landscape. Though still a young man, he has been showcasing his pieces since 2012. including several premier exhibitions at the National Gallery of Jamaica: Jamaica Biennial (2014), Young Talent (2015), and Digital (2016). He is a regular contributor to the Kingston on the Edge festival, most notably Explorations II (2015). Other exhibitions include Lost in the Echo (2016), Sensory (2019), Fragility (2019) and Fragility II (2019). His thematic explorations unfold piece by piece like chapters in a book.
Richard is a recipient of the 2020 Prime Minister Youth Awards in the Category of Arts and Culture.
