You Gave Your Breath to the Wind
September 2024
Nathalie El Baba
Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1971 during the civil war, Nathalie and her family relocated to England, and she has been based in Ireland since 1990.
Her artistic practice focuses on creating connections through the human experience, with works that engage physical, and emotional landscapes.
Day in, day out she explores themes of connection, transformation and the shared human story.
The pieces in this exhibition reflect Nathalie's contemplative and expressive style, marked by loose, gestural marks and atmospheric compositions that capture both the ephemeral fragility and resilience of life.
The exhibition:
“What do you see?
I am firstly an observer, and this is always the beginning of my process. The taking up of space, the shift in movement, the transformation through light, these elements invite me to engage with them.
As I work, I consider the human story and its relationship to my subject matter. For me, there is always a relationship, and it is that, that I seek out.
What do I want to say with my art? Look for the connection, feel it, be part of it. Witness our shared stories, our humanity”.
“You Gave Your Breath to the Wind” is a deeply personal body of work created in response to the grief of losing her father. Through a series of oil and acrylic paintings, as well as wood-mounted prints, Nathalie El Baba explores the raw emotions tied to loss, memory, and the inevitable return to the elements.
The work touches on universal themes of life and death, offering viewers an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences with bereavement and the cyclical nature of existence.
