KARLA NIXON

This Durban artist’s work is diverse and nuanced – but all made of paper. Her abstract Colour Feels works are especially mesmerising.

Why paper? It has been a long and sometimes arduous love affair, but one I can’t shake. Paper is common, unpretentious and banal as an object. It’s like no other material; it can be both 3D and 2D. It can be manipulated, folded, creased, torn, cut, painted on. It’s both fragile and robust. Its ability to transform is magical and whimsical, and surprises me every day. And abstract art? In my mind, my work walks this fine line of abstraction and figuration. It sometimes makes reference to textiles and carpets in concept, so its form is important – but beyond that, the textures and colours are often abstract in nature. I like how abstract art requires an unadulterated emotive response by capturing the essence of “things” that figuration can often distract from or miss.

Artists who inspire you? At the moment, El Anatsui, Yayoi Kusama and Trish Andersen are firm favourites.

karla_nixon | karlanixon.com

You can also view some of Karla’s work at the Tamasa Gallery in Durban.