Conroy Nathan is a fine art student who is not afraid to own his talent. He calls his skills “God-given” and feels most at home in an art gallery, studio or anywhere that has “anything to do with art.”
“Art is my passion and my talent, and I want to do the best I can here at Curtin to nurture that,” he says.
While Nathan’s artistic knack is unwavering, his study life was less certain. He was in and out of university after battling with psychosis, and almost gave up on his degree completely.
“I was on medication for some time, but it only made it worse to the point of wanting to drop out of university for good,” he says.
“Coming back to university was the ultimate therapy. From that moment I left all my meds behind and allowed university to help me cope and it did. I’m not fully healed from my condition but I’ve learned to live with it and hopefully one day I’ll be healed.
I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the peace and serenity that I found at university and all the people I’ve met while studying fine arts.”
Once he graduates, Nathan wants to travel the world and help inspire people to use art to tell stories.
“I just want people to know the wonders art can do to people by changing them in positive ways,” he says.
“I hope that one day I will be able to help other people recognise the power of art. I want to open my own art gallery, where I will help people to see the potential it offers, not just as a business, but as a therapeutic alternative to help people get on with their lives and make that little difference in the world.”
Nathan’s story is part of the Humans of Curtin series.
