Richard Nattoo

Richard Nattoo was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1993. He studied Architecture at the University of Technology Jamaica, where his interest in the world of the arts grew ferociously, propelling him into a career as a full time Artist. Over the years, he has participated in many premier exhibitions at the National Gallery of Jamaica, in addition to international solo and group shows namely: Between the Horizon and the Echo with Chilli Art Projects in London (2023), Whispers in the Night with Eclectica Contemporary in Cape Town and FNB Joburg (2024). The genius of his mastery is in the use of watercolors, pen and ink on canvas using water from natural sources. Richard is also a recipient of the 2020 Prime Minister Youth Award in the category of Arts and Culture. In 2022, Richard’s work “Moonlight Meditations of Mama Nanny” was permanently installed at the Institute of Jamaica (Kingston).

Let’s go somewhere. To place between the horizon where stories of ancestors are reverberated through the night and carried on the backs of fireflies.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is a narrative on my personal interest in Spirituality and Magical Realism through a Caribbean lens. By tracing the roots of my Caribbean heritage I celebrate Akan, Taino and Hindu spirituality-ies through the ethereal existence of My Majic World. Taking inspiration from the Sacred Groves of India and Africa together with the Mangroves of the Caribbean, I create a space where all three worlds collide in a multilayered song of ancestry, spirituality, majic and youth.


My Majic World chronicles the journey of an adult Wanderer and a child Majician, the latter on a mission to untether the Wanderer from the soulless jaws of the unforgiving dark realm of adulthood, replenishing him with childlike wonder. The protagonists are guided by the inhabitants of the Majic World, the Ancestors, that send messages using fireflies to guide them on their expedition.


To bring this world to life, in creating the work, I employ the use of Living Water, that is water from natural water bodies such as rivers and waterfalls. This is because I have come to understand that water is a highly spiritual entity, creating, destroying, carrying messages and most importantly memories. Memories forever embedded in my pieces. Memories that breathe life into My Majic World.


In my most recent explorations, I have employed the use of elements from Caribbean life such as tassels and specific trimmings I saw growing up but in a way that gives new meaning to the work. Taking inspiration from Hindu prayer rugs, the work becomes a prayer in itself to connect with an inner divinity. In addition the use of specific hardwoods in the work such as cedar and guango, call back to these memories as I grew up around these trees and the furniture they produce gives the scent of what I call home.