Sue Nicholas brings a distinctive voice to the art world, combining her academic background from Goldsmith’s College and Imperial College, University of London, with a deep fascination for inner consciousness. While her formal education reflects a structured and analytical approach, her art takes a decidedly unconventional path. Rather than focusing on external identity, her work ventures inward, probing the ever-changing essence of self and its connection to the broader force of life.
Nicholas approaches creativity as an inward exploration, mapping the subtle and intricate interplay of emotions, thoughts, and sensations that define our inner world. Her artistic output—spanning painting and digital art—seeks to visually express these elusive elements, inviting viewers to engage with themes that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her pieces often evoke the fleeting, indefinable nature of consciousness, offering glimpses into a realm best understood through reflection or meditation.
In 2023, Nicholas ventured into digital art, creating two beautiful pieces, Origen and Doppelgänger. Both works delve into different facets of consciousness, showcasing her ongoing interest in the self’s complexities. These creations were displayed for a brief weekend in October at a gallery in New York, arranged by the Holy Art Gallery in London.
Origen: The Birth of Awareness
Origen invites viewers to consider the beginnings of consciousness, presenting an abstract and fluid representation of this enigmatic concept. The digital piece is a vivid composition of organic forms and dynamic colors that appear to pulse with an intrinsic energy. Through layered textures and the interplay of light, Nicholas captures a sense of primordial vitality, as though visualizing the moment thought emerges from nothingness.
The artwork is alive with movement, its shapes and hues constantly shifting like a living entity. Swirling golds, deep blues, and fiery reds interweave, creating a balance between chaos and harmony. This dynamic tension mirrors the unpredictable, multifaceted nature of human thought. Rather than providing answers, Origen sparks curiosity, encouraging viewers to lose themselves in its vibrant layers and wonder about the roots of consciousness.
For Nicholas, Origen is less about defining what consciousness is and more about evoking its intangible mystery. Its fluid forms and glowing colors suggest a force that connects all beings, offering a deeply reflective experience for those who choose to engage.
Doppelgänger: Exploring Inner Duality
Where Origen contemplates origins, Doppelgänger turns inward, examining the dual nature of identity and consciousness. This digital artwork employs mirrored shapes that almost—but not quite—align, creating a subtle tension that draws the viewer’s attention. The imperfect symmetry suggests a dialogue between contrasting aspects of the self, highlighting the inner conflict that often defines human existence.
The juxtaposition evokes a sense of depth, as though layers of consciousness are being peeled back to reveal a complex inner dialogue. Doppelgänger raises questions about how we see ourselves: are we unified beings, or do we continually navigate between different versions of who we are?
The artwork speaks to a universal experience, inviting viewers to reflect on their own inner duality. Whether seen as a meditation on identity or a commentary on the multifaceted nature of consciousness, Doppelgänger resonates on multiple levels, offering both personal insight and broader existential questions.
Reflections on the Exhibition
These digital pieces expand on Nicholas’s lifelong artistic exploration of consciousness, blending her intellectual rigor with an intuitive grasp of the self’s mysteries. They demand quiet contemplation, rewarding viewers with a deeper understanding of the unseen forces that shape human experience.
As Sue Nicholas continues to push boundaries and explore the nature of being, her work serves as a reminder that art can be a profound tool for introspection. With Origen and Doppelgänger, she invites us to join her on a journey into the depths of the mind—a place where questions matter more than answers.
