Ken Nahan (b. 1960)

My recent drawings are a form of storytelling without words. I invite viewers to experience them as if listening to an imagined melody, with the narratives shaped by their own interpretations, sparking curiosity and discovery. These works draw inspiration from my deep appreciation for diverse musical genres and the visual language of artists like Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Alexander Calder.

Some of my smaller pieces are created on handmade paper, while others take shape on nautical charts or topographical maps. These maps are sanded to soften their features, creating a weathered, textured surface that evokes erosion and the passage of time. This deliberate process transforms the maps into a foundation that tells its own story before the first line is drawn. Using ink, my drawings emerge as spontaneous improvisations, blending abstraction, geometry, and musicality. They carry no predetermined intent, allowing the interplay of flowing lines, circles, spirals, squares, and rectangles to unfold organically. Repeating motifs often mirror musical cadences, while orchestrated colors suggest tonalities, creating a visual composition that resonates with rhythm and movement. - Ken Nahan -