Nathalie Brans

Artist statement by Nathalie Brans

If all of space could fit in a shoebox, then how big would the world be? And how big would I be?

Scale plays an important role in my work. My main sources of inspiration are the heavenly bodies; how we experience them and the connections between them, for example how the Moon orbits Earth and how Earth and the Moon together in turn orbit the Sun. They influence one another and together keep the system in balance.

I read about astronomy, study the heavens with my telescope and take photos of the sun and moon. To me photography is a way to collect images and I am mainly interested in analogue and lensless photography. The manual process involved with these techniques pleases me. Working by hand means feeling the materials and having an intimate relation with them.

I prefer working with paper and fabric, foldable and soft materials that are easily worked by hand and share a tactile, haptic, quality. I create tapestries, artist books, collages and, occasionally, performances. The outcome constists of conceptual works in which time is established in a both miniscule and majestic manner.

Nathalie Brans (1968, Maastricht, NLD) has shown her works in public spaces, museums and galleries and is represented in several public collections. She participated in the residency-program of Villa Waldberta in Munich from October to December 2023.

Recent shows in which Brans participated. 

2024 Into the Void, IKOB, Eupen, B
2024 Repetition, Photo Canopy Summer Exhibition, Burton on Trent, UK
2024 Elements, Galerie Pontarte Maastricht, NL
2023 Heavenly Bodies, Palmenhaus Villa Waldberta, Feldafing, DE
2023 Superbooks Event, Haus der Kunst, München, DE
2023 Tussenruimte, Cacao Fabriek Helmond, NL
2022 Books by Artists, de Meldkamer, Maastricht, NL
2022 Tapestries in Eyck Room, Kasteel Wijlre Estate, Wijlre, NL