"Human's relationship to nature is simultaneously the most basic and critical facet of how we conceptualize our existence. Over the course of our history, we have defined ourselves as being distinct from nature. This perceived separation has caused us to view nature as being something that exists outside our experience, something inherently inferior. Having no original authority to our constructed distinction—this destructive worldview is only validated through our belief in its truth. "Nature" is merely an idea that exists in the human psyche—a construction.

My exploration of this subject involves facilitating video documented, performative-based situations that originate from my own impression of the ways we understand animal species and the affect of our ever-expanding development of the world. By utilizing humor, absurdity, costume, and a DIY aesthetic as thematic elements in the conceptual structure of my work, I approach our attitudes towards nature with a grassroots sensibility infused with mocking criticality. Additionally, by making a conscious effort to work with others through their participation in the performance, I allow the project an amount of plasticity that could not be achieved if I were to work alone.

I utilize the performative process as a tool to reference humanity's notions of nature and to demonstrate them over time. The gestures that are carried out in my projects, though charged with satire and ridicule, overtly reveal our damaging relationship towards the natural world and depict the consequential condition of helplessness and displacement of animal species, including our own. The use of video emphasizes our constructed worldview by demonstrating the malleability of thought and information, while acting as a reflection of the time-based quality inherent in our history. The crates that I use to display the physical elements of my performances further elaborate this. By employing these methods, I subvert our constructed relationship to nature and question our relationship to aspects of the world that have been defined as non-human."

-Nathan Dorotiak Artist Statement