Nothing Had, Nothing Lost
Prints by Nathaniel Benjamin.
Nathaniel Benjamin approaches printmaking through a surrealistic lens, examining the interaction between self and other. Raised mostly in the Midwest, his religious childhood inspired him to study mysticism and mythology, subjects that inform the mood of his work as well as his imagery. He uses his art practice as a means to uncover where we find our sense of self in the context of technology. Our perception of the world around us, and of each other, shifts as technology develops. Taking inspiration from both the physical and digital worlds, he points out the grotesque nature of the evolving conflict between our bodies and the digital tools we use.
He earned his BFA with an emphasis in printmaking from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is interested in printmaking because each print he makes is unique, but it is also part of a set. This stands in contrast with the digital objects he critiques which are identical and infinitely reproducible. Recently, he has expanded his practice to include hand-printed apparel and mural painting. He is a founding member of Laika Press, a community printmaking space operating in Reno.