Dear art friends,
We kindly invite you to explore several recent and captivating works by Kurt Nahar. In these creations, the artist takes you on two profound inner journeys.
The first journey is a spiritual exploration of his roots: “As a person of mixed heritage, I feel how my diverse ancestors, at different times, urge me to delve into what I carry within me through them.” After examining his Afro-Surinamese heritage, he turned his attention to Hindustani culture and religion—an aspect of himself that, as he describes it, had been “dormant for a long time.” This exploration led him further into Javanism, where he was particularly struck by the shared elements between the two. Through this spiritual journey, Kurt has gained a deeper understanding of the world around him. In his words: “For me, the greatest gift you can receive as a Surinamese is learning to understand and appreciate each other’s traditions, cultures, and ways of life. Becoming aware of the many similarities we share is truly enriching.”
The second journey uncovers a hidden part of his inner world: “Often, we suppress certain feelings and thoughts out of fear—fear of being misunderstood or hurting others. But what resides within me, or has formed inside me, inevitably finds expression in my art. For instance, I am a happily married man, and when I see a beautiful woman, I limit myself to admiring her beauty—mi switi mie ai (I enjoy looking)—but the emotions she evokes flow into my work.” Lust and female sexual organs are recurring themes in his art, but they are not meant to objectify. On the contrary, they honor women: “Gender inequality is a persistent issue, even in matters of sexuality. For me, a woman’s sexual desire and satisfaction are just as important as a man’s.” Therefore, Kurt celebrates the beauty and power of women in his work.