Art to elevate the spirit

The artist, who works from a Braamfontein studio, explores the perceived difference between human nature and the natural world in installation works, etchings, charcoal drawings and paintings.

Born and schooled in Johannesburg, Taylor discovered an aptitude for art at an early age.

“Colouring in and making stamps was one of my favourite things to do. My dad still has a home movie which was made when I was four years old, in which I said I was going to be an artist when I grew up,” she said.

On leaving school, Taylor wanted to study traditional skills and art techniques, so she headed to Scuola Lorenzo De Medici in Florence, Italy.

“Work must be technically strong. Florence is the centre of that, where you paint an apple from every angle until it rots,” she said.

While in Italy, Taylor realised she was so focused on painting it scared her.

“I thought, ‘I’m only 18. What if all I know about the world is confined to art?’. My uncle told me that artist’s essentially run their own businesses and I wanted to know how to do that, so I then studied a BCom philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Cape Town,” she said.

From there, Taylor continued her art studies at London’s Art Academy.

Taylor’s first solo exhibition was held at Everard Read Gallery in 2010. Thereafter she participated in a group show in England. In 2012, Taylor’s second solo exhibition was held in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A recurring theme in her work is that of birds in flight.

“Birds, trees and philosophy often form part of my subject matter. Bird flight speaks to me of the elevation of the human spirit and infinite potential. I see nature as a matrix of possibilities, but human nature is different. We have such isolated identities. When we experience elevation of spirit, we feel part of something much bigger. We can access the unknown to create things. I think that is our true nature,” she said.

Details: 011-788-4805; www.nicolataylor.net