Harvey Nichol

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Harvey Nichol joined the 315 Artist in Residence Program in May 2024. Harvey is a Manila-born, Calgary-raised multidisciplinary artist whose inspirations are deeply rooted in his appreciation for Filipino culture. Known for his dynamic blend of neo-expressionism, folklore, street art and auto-ethnography, his artistic journey encompasses a diverse array of practices, including painting, narrative art, sculptural work, streetwear, murals, and digital art.

Harvey is passionately committed to leveraging the transformative power of diversity and creativity, showcasing the rich intersections between artistic expression and storytelling. His quest for pushing the boundaries of conventional artistry has led him to participate in a variety of art projects, exhibitions, and residencies. Harvey’s creative collaborations span local and international brands, including YYC Bump, Neo Financial, and Herschel Supply. His work has achieved global recognition, earning features in notable magazines and news outlets across Canada and Asia.

As our second artist-in-residence, Harvey has dedicated his time in the residency to exploring different art mediums and working on various projects. Leveraging his artistic expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, Harvey has successfully hosted LIKHAAN, a three-day festival celebrating Filipino arts and culture, a Neon Baybayin Workshop. merchandise design for our tenant base, and other commercialization opportunities, all while working towards his proposed artwork for the program.

BIRINGAN, A MYTH REIMAGINED

Biringan: A Myth Reimagined is a 9-foot-tall mixed-media assemblage sculpture that fuses ancient Filipino folklore with elements of futurism, creating a dynamic narrative that transcends cultural boundaries. The sculpture’s head represents Apolaki, the Sun God in the Tagalog mythology, embodying light, power, and resilience. Inspired by the mythical city of Biringan, which translates to "where one finds the lost," this work imagines a futuristic city shrouded in mystery, a place where the forgotten, the displaced, and the lost are reborn in new forms. A city that exists beyond time.

As part of the 315 Residency at Bankers Hall, this piece connects the old and new, the spiritual and the urban, offering a visual dialogue between forgotten mythology and the modern cityscape that surrounds it. The design of the sculpture also takes cues from the surrounding architecture of Calgary's downtown core, where the angular shapes and towering forms of the city’s buildings influenced the sculpture’s sharp lines and geometric structures. The bronze patina-like colour scheme evokes the rich history of monuments like the Statue of Liberty which stands as a timeless symbol of hope, and the journey of immigrants seeking a new life. The sculpture intentionally incorporates multiple layers of interpretation, inviting viewers to engage with the work and weave their own tales from its elements.