Nicole Burko, Visions of Heaven and Hell

About the Artist:

Nicole Burko's profound engagements with the ocean through freediving—a single-breath journey into the ocean's depths—transcends into psychological landscape paintings. They beckon viewers to delve into the uncharted terrains of our world, urging an exploration of both terrestrial expanses and the unknown realms beyond.

Part of the artist's practice involves the first-person exploration of underwater caves. Freediving is a sport that entails taking a single breath of air and descending into the ocean as deep as humanly possible. This exercise encompasses both mental and physical aspects, as the diver remains acutely attuned to their surroundings while delving into their own inner thoughts. With the onset of the mammalian dive reflex, blood redistributes from the extremities, and the heart rate decelerates, inducing a state of euphoria. This euphoric state gradually transforms into tension and discomfort as the body becomes progressively hypoxic, and the urge to breathe intensifies with each passing moment.

Upon resurfacing, the artist carries the oceanic experience into their studio. Diving serves as a means of translation, much like the Romantics who have been a source of inspiration. The artist infuses their artwork with qualities such as stillness, longing, and the sensory experiences that accompany the challenge of capturing the vastness of the natural world. These emotions and sensations, all of which are felt in the deep sea, find expression in their artistic endeavors.