Nathaniel Oliver's exhibition, "Worth Keeping Because the Drift is Always There," presents new paintings that follow characters throughout a single day in a shared landscape. Drawing from personal experiences, regional culture, and speculative fiction, Oliver depicts their journeys with layered compositions. The painting, "We Need Our Paranoia to Keep Us Safe," allegorizes survival in a dystopian context, illustrating comfort amidst urgency. Conversely, "The Break Off" reflects the struggle against unseen threats, using Plato's cave metaphor to highlight the tension of being aware yet confined. Oliver's use of textiles connects personal history to broader narratives of resilience.
In 'We Need Our Paranoia to Keep Us Safe', the central figure's action of dousing a fire symbolizes survival tactics in a perilous world of dystopia.
Nathaniel Oliver's paintings weave a narrative tapestry, inviting viewers to ponder the invisible struggles of a community as they maneuver through looming dangers.
In 'The Break Off', the figures' shifting shadows echo Plato's cave, illustrating the interplay between reality and perception as they escape an unidentified threat.
By blending his figuration with elements from fiction and real-life culture, Oliver crafts a speculative realm, challenging viewers to engage with narratives of resilience.
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