A.K. Nicholas

For A. K. Nicholas, photography is only a starting point. He departs from traditional photography's role as factual communication to create fiction. The artist's imagination leads us on an expedition, mapping new territory in a dream-like world. At first, these photographic hallucinations seem real; the subjects and colors are plausible. Look closer and the invention is revealed. Delicate tones, vibrant colors, or subtle gradations mimic classic hand-colored photography. Inspired by oil painting, highlights and shadows are embellished with opposing hues of warm and cool to shape the illusion of depth and to set a mood. Golden-toned figures protrude from icy blue textures or stand starkly against plain backgrounds. Subtle alterations leave the viewer questioning how much is real. The body of work is neither a technical tour de force nor designed to appeal to a mass audience. The artwork celebrates sensuality, referencing traditional ideas of beauty in a blend of nostalgia and commentary. The style is unapologetic; a candid and individual perspective of sensuality, neither outright erotic, nor with a requirement for modesty. The subjects play characters with intoxicating personalities; dramatizing energy, desirability, playfulness, or defiance. A K Nicholas is from the United States and was raised overseas as a second-generation artist. Childhood travels fostered a disdain for the formality of museums which faded when introduced to the work of Mel Ramos, Tom Wesselmann, and Hajime Sorayama. His initial training was figure drawing and painting from live models in art college. Subsequent influences include the symbolism of Sandy Skoglund, the psychologically complex subjects of Olivia De Berardinis, and the unpredictability of Edward Hopper. The artist's visual language is a pastiche of cultural perceptions of femininity, from ancient fertility symbols to modern taboos. Sexuality is portrayed both as a biological fact and as an aspect of personality. The themes reference, both in homage and critique: hedonism, patriarchy, commercialism, tradition, and strength.