Folkestone Triennial

Nathan Coley

Title: Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Location: The Old Post Office, 48 Tontine Street

Nathan Coley's illuminated text sculpture is fixed to a 6x6m metal scaffolding structure. Each word is spelt out by aluminum letters to which fairground-style light bulbs are attached. Ambiguous readings, such as 'Heaven' as a place where nothing (bad) ever happens or the notion that heaven in terms of 'after life' doesn't exist are intentional. Folkestone as seaside resort and traditional place for restful retirement - a haven of uneventfulness - could be suggested here.

Translated text about each of the artworks into French, Turkish and Slovak can be found on the events page or from the visitor centre

Nathan's Biography

Born Glasgow, 1967. Lives and works in Glasgow.

Nathan Coley’s practice is based on an interest in public space, and explores how architecture comes to be invested, and reinvested, with meaning. Coley works in a diverse range of media including public and gallery-based sculpture, photography, drawing and video.

Recent solo exhibitions include

Doggerfisher Gallery – Edinburgh 2007
We Must Cultivate Our Garden, Public Art Project – Edinburgh 2007
There Will Be No Miracles Here, Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute – Scotland 2006
Gathering of Strangers, ICA – Nottingham 2006
Haunch of Venison Gallery - Berlin 2008

Recent group exhibitions include

Breaking Steps, Museum of Contemporary Art – Belgrade 2007
British Art Show 6 – Newcastle (touring) 2005/06
Solitude, Upstairs – Berlin 2006
A Cidade Interpretada – Santiago de Compostela, Spain 2006

Coley has been nominated for the Turner Prize 2007 and was awarded the Artist Award from the Scottish Arts Council in 2003 and 1996.

See Nathan Coley's work at the Haunch of Venison website and the Doggerfisher Gallery website