In Equally Empty, Nathan Byrne transposes a space from a graphite drawing by SF Bay Area-based artist Dean Smith into an immersive spatial encounter. The locus of the viewer’s experience is to cross the threshold of the architectural enclosure at the center of the installation to enter a dimly lit sculptural environment and bathe in ethereal sound (sound composed by Emmerich Anklam, aka Distant Reader). This ‘inner sanctum’ is made to be sensorial and transformative, allowing the perceiver to navigate not only this enigmatic interior, but their own sense of self. A labyrinth surrounds this structure, whose pathways allow their walker to nearly reach the point where they began the passage, before goading them to retrace their steps back to the beginning.
As part of this exhibition Nathan Byrne is also releasing an artist book and album (available through distantreader.bandcamp.com), which are platforms for collaboration while exploring spatial and inner experience in language and sound. The relationship of the proposal drawing and realized space is explored in real time as the viewer encounters the graphite drawing untitled, 2019 by the artist Dean Smith within the exhibition. For this project, Dean Smith’s intricate and contemplative drawing of a labyrinth has been momentarily assigned the role of proposal drawing.
The title Equally Empty is informed by the idea of finding solace in space and in spaciousness. Emptiness for the artist is a heightened state of awareness allowing one to enter into a space and feel the environment in which they occupy. Equally refers to the belief that we all are innately able to enter into this state of being.
