Nandan Sam He
Could you tell us about yourself and your background?
My name is Nandan (Sam) He, I was born in 1991, Guangdong, China. I am a multimedia artist with a background in painting, animation, interactive sculpture, and mixed media installation. I earned my BFA degree in Painting from the Maryland Institute of Art and my MFA degree in Interdisciplinary art from Mount Royal School of Art. Currently, I work as an independent artist based in New York.
When did you decide to pursue a career as an artist?
I always wanted to pursue a career as an artist. But I think it was during the years of master degree, it reinforced this idea because I was provided with the foundation and tools, not only physically but mentally what I needed to fully explore and express my artistic vision. It was then discovered the boundless potential of art as a means to delve into the intricate layers of the world’s perception, cognition, and existence. I realized being an artist has the profound potential to unlock the gates of boundless possibilities and explore the enigma of existence.
What does your artwork aim to say?
My artwork aims to act as a mirror reflecting the dissonance within ourselves. It whispers of our journey through a surreal world, where each step navigates the shadows of misinformation and the haunting sense of misplacement. I craft installations with materials like cardboard, animation, and found objects to conjure intimate spaces that offer a deceptive sanctuary from the chaos. These spaces sanitize and romanticize our armor, exposing the raw essence of contemporary selves and the peculiar dance of cognition in a world brimming with paradoxes. My art unfolds the impermanence and fluidity of reality, challenging the very constructs that define our existence. Marco Polo's descriptions in “The Invisible Cities” saids that memory images are fixed in words and gradually erased. My works are fragments of the whole, they create multidimensional spaces where boundaries blur and dimensions intertwine. It invites viewers to traverse the corridors of their own cognition, akin to the surreal portal. I invite viewers to step through these portals to explore their inner voice, and to embrace the beauty of the ever-shifting reality we inhabit.
How do you stay motivated and productive in your art practice?
Staying motivated and productive in my art practice is a result of my deep passion for creating. I find inspiration in the rawness of contemporary self-expression and the challenge of unraveling the irrational order of our hyper-normalized world.
My motivation is fueled by an unquenchable curiosity. I find solace in the idea that different scales of existence can coexist and overlap. This motivates me to continually explore new avenues and push the boundaries of my artistry. Motivation flows from my deep-rooted passion for unraveling the enigma of our existence. The perpetual challenge of deciphering the irrational order in a world drowning in normalized absurdities is a beacon that keeps me endlessly curious and productive in my artistry.
How has your artistic career progressed and changed over time?
Over time, my artistic career has evolved as I have delved into various mediums and installation formats. My work has been exhibited in different parts of the world, which has allowed me to engage with diverse audiences and expand my creative horizons. My artistic evolution is a journey of unearthing new facets of my creative soul. As my work has traversed global exhibitions from New York to Milan, I've had the privilege to converse with diverse audiences. This dialog with the world has enriched my artistic narrative, pushing the boundaries of my creative expression.
Over time, my artistic evolution has mirrored the ever-shifting cityscapes in "Invisible Cities." Each exhibition and interaction with the world transforms my creative narrative, much like the ever-elusive nature of the castle in Kafka's novel. My practice has evolved into immersive installations that challenge the scales of perception, echoing Kaufman's exploration of identity.
Who are your biggest influences?
My biggest influences are all around. I got my inspiration from my daydreaming and daydream comes from everyday life. From readings, movies, news, youtubers, conversations with people, with nature, with my furniture? With a rock? With my toilet? With void. The world is fantastic when you just look at it. But here I want to mention two books that I was drawn into. Kafka’s "The Castle" delves into themes of bureaucracy, alienation, and the struggle to access the inaccessible. In a similar vein, my art seeks to navigate the Kafkaesque dissonance within human perceptions. It challenges the structures that define our reality, inviting viewers to question their own place within this intricate world. Calvino's “The Invisible City”also touches on the ephemeral nature of memory and representation. “When memory's images are fixed in words, they are, in a sense, erased or altered”. This notion aligns with my approach to art, where I seek to capture fleeting moments and emotions, knowing that by fixing them in a creative form, they take on new meaning. Much like Polo's reticence to speak of Venice directly, I acknowledge that speaking of one subject often means losing another. My art, like memory itself, is a delicate dance of preservation and transformation, where each piece becomes a synecdoche, a doorway into the depth of chaos.
Which elements are essential to an artist’s work?
There are many elements that are really important to one’s work including, innovation, technical proficiency to use mediums, willingness to experiment and the ability to resonate. I think the most important element to me is to be honest to myself and allow the real inner subconscious to unfold. The aspects of ourselves that can make us feel weak and pathetic, the parts that we fear might render us unlovable if revealed. However, they are also the very things that long to be acknowledged and understood. We should learn deeply about ourselves, acknowledge the evil and angel side of your desire, and experience the world before you grow up to be an artist.
Which function does the artist fulfill in society?
Artists serve as storytellers and explorers of the human condition, have fulfilled the important role of challenging societal norms, sparking dialogue, and offering alternative perspectives. They contribute to cultural enrichment and can be a catalyst for change. transmuting the ordinary into the extraordinary, questioning the boundaries of predetermined values and interconnectedness of ideas. They invite the viewers to shift their perspective, and raise all sorts of philosophical questions about the nature of self, and the existence of a soul.
What do you want your artwork to stand for?
I want my artwork to stand for the exploration of the human experience in a contemporary context, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions of our existence. I aspire for my artwork to explore the contemporary human condition—a resting place to our struggles, resilience, and our ceaseless quest for meaning in an ever-changing world. As Charlie Kaufman quotes, "There's a tiny, tiny chance that these phenomena exist on some...molecular level." "I do believe you have a wound too. I do believe it is both specific to you and common to everyone,” I want my works to stand as a tribute to this chance, a glimpse into the complex layers of reality, to delve into the hidden and protected wounds that reside within all of us. To uncover those intricate, deeply personal yet universally shared aspects of the human condition. These are the secrets we carry, the vulnerabilities that we often conceal and tap dance over in the grand performance of life. I invite viewers to confront and embrace their own vulnerabilities. In doing so, they offer a glimpse into the depths of our shared humanity and the beautiful messiness that defines us all.
What are your long-term goals for your career?
Since the world has paused a little bit these years, I have got the time and space to really have a conversation with myself and have written many things and stories. I am working on putting those ideas into new works and finishing my newest animation installation this year. My long-term goals for my career include continuing to create thought-provoking and immersive installations, collaborating with other artists, and expanding the reach of my work to engage with a global audience. My personal life and career in a way grows together.
