hcma is excited to be back with another Tilt talk. This time, hosted by artist and designer Nathan Lee.

Like many people, Nathan Lee’s approach to communication has changed in the last three years. As a hands-on artist and designer he leaned heavily on maquettes and physical models to illustrate and present his work. But as the world shifted online during the pandemic, this physical approach began to lose its appeal.

Join us for a Tilt talk where Nathan will share how his practice adapted to a new digital reality, and how the continuously changing communication landscape has led to a new direction for his work. Where model making was once a tool for exposition, it is also now an invitation for participation.

This Tilt talk will follow the evolution of Nathan’s DIY maquette approach, from works of public art to the examination of an early North Vancouver settler ethnic enclave. It will also explore how this process informs his current work, an exploration of Chinatown-specific architectural features which were a result of race-based social and legislative pressures. Finally, this talk will embrace a hands-on approach by providing take-home papercraft models to participants.

Seats and materials are limited, and as such we encourage you to RSVP below.

About the artist:

Nathan Lee has taken a broad approach to traditional art and design disciplines, applying his formal training in landscape architecture to a career in public art. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, he brings over a decade and a half of design and fabrication experience to each new project. In 2004, Nathan co-founded Contexture Design, an award winning firm whose work emphasizes simple, elegant, and playful design. His ‘heavy but light’ approach seeks to engage meaningful social and ecological concepts with a humor and whimsy, while celebrating overlooked natural and cultural narratives. By understanding the unique qualities of each site, his projects are on one hand refined and richly laden with local meaning, and on the other hand buildable, durable, and responsive to the practical demands of interior and exterior public art.

Nathan’s diverse project portfolio and hands-on approach has allowed him to explore a broad range of subject matters from boatbuilding to beekeeping. As a craftsman he has shaped wood, molded concrete, and engineered paper. His whimsical approach to site-specific installations has been well received by municipalities including Burnaby, North Vancouver, New Westminster, and Port Moody, all of which have awarded him commissions. His work is in the permanent collection at the Museum of North Vancouver and has been exhibited at nationally recognized venues such as the Royal Ontario Museum and The Museum of Vancouver. Recently, Nathan was awarded a Canada Council grant to explore the unique architectural features in Vancouver’s Chinatown through scale model.

For more about Nathan: https://www.contexture.ca/

About the venue:

The session will be held at our Vancouver office, a short walk from Waterfront Skytrain station. There are also paid parking options nearby. Our building, space, and restrooms are accessible without inclines, stairs, or obstacles.

Please buzz 0400 at the front door and take the elevator up to the fourth floor.

For any questions or concerns, we can be reached at (604)732-6620.

Register now:

Join us Thursday, June15th, at 6:00 pm, PST.

We have a limited capacity of 50, so registration is first come first served.

Please note that this event is 19+.