A rational person, Paul says, would use tape to paint straight lines but he paints in freehand rejecting perfection, believing it’s delusional to strive to be perfect.

Auckland-based artist Paul Nathan, through his alter ego Bonco, creates oil-on-linen paintings that delve into geometric abstraction, a practice born during his MFA at Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland. Conceived as a “symbolist window,” Paul’s modernist grid explores spiritual and universal dimensions, seeking transcendence through structured yet subversive forms. Rejecting the quest for perfection, Paul paints freehand, his intentionally imperfect lines – described as “gestures towards straightness” – echoing the philosophies of Mondrian, Kandinsky, and Hilma af Klint. These lines challenge the rigidity of mathematical precision, proposing that true harmony lies in embracing the organic and imperfect.

After years in New York honing his photography skills, Paul returned to Aotearoa in his mid-40s, driven by an undeniable artistic calling. Accepted into Elam, he pivoted to painting, inspired by the landscapes of Aotearoa and its influence on his metaphysical inquiries. His work constructs a utopian vision, the “Boncosmos,” where the grid serves as a metaphor for society, structured yet ripe for reinvention. By manipulating perspective and employing visual “tricks,” Paul creates dynamic compositions that invite viewers to question the unseen structures shaping our world.

Operating between two studios, Paul maximises his creative output by working on two canvases simultaneously, transporting paints and brushes between identical easels. This fluid setup allows him to immerse himself in painting for up to 18 hours a day, a testament to his dedication. His work, exhibited and collected both in New Zealand and internationally, reflects a deep engagement with abstraction’s spiritual lineage, offering a vision of a harmonious, imperfect world.