Art From Ruins: Nika Neelova on Sculpting Time And Transience

The Installation Art Podcast

Episode 11 features an engaging conversation with the award-winning artist Nika Neelova, discussing her artistic career, process, and projects.

In this in-depth interview:

• Neelova shares insights into her nomadic childhood, work-life balance, and her nature as a workaholic.

• we delve into the challenges and physical demands of working with large-scale, site-specific art installations.

• Nika discusses her passion for working with found and reclaimed materials and the significance of material and historical context in her work

• the conversation also covers her collaborations with other artists and professionals, her approach to site-specific projects in remote locations, and the significant influence of literature and philosophy in her practice.

• Neelova gives examples of creating her own opportunities, and the continuous learning that comes with each project.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:22 Navigating Work-Life Balance

02:05 The Fascination with Archaeology and Historical References

02:43 Unconventional Interests: From Shark Teeth to Staircases

03:38 Exploring Roots: A Nomadic Childhood and Multilingualism

06:19 The Journey into Art: Education and Early Projects

07:17 The Evolution of Artistic Practice: Installation and Materiality

11:10 Collaboration and Learning in Artistic Production

17:17 The Role of Reclaimed Materials in Art

27:19 The Process of Creating Site-Specific Art

38:21 The Artistic Process: From Concept to Creation

39:12 Exploring the Depths of Material and Time

41:34 Embracing Serendipity

51:01 The Role of Research and Literature in Art

58:27 The Challenges and Rewards of Large-Scale Art

01:09:07 Creating Your Own Path in the Art World

01:11:38 Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Aspirations

Nika Neelova is based in London. You can check out her work on her website www.nikaneelova.com and on her Instagram @nikaneelova https://www.instagram.com/nikaneelova/

She works with:

Noire Gallery in Italy: https://www.noiregallery.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/noiregallery/

NIKA Project Space in UAE: https://www.nika-projects.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/nika.projectspace/

Parafin in the UK: https://www.parafin.co.uk/ | https://www.instagram.com/parafinlondon/

Also mentioned in this episode:

The Harris Matrix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_matrix

Royal Academy of Art, The Hague: https://www.kabk.nl/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/royalacademyofart.thehague/

Slade School of Fine Art: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/ | https://instagram.com/sladeschool/

Whitechapel Bell Foundry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitechapel_Bell_Foundry

Piazza Castello: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Castello,_Turin

Gorgons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgons

Perseo Triumfante: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Cortile-Ottagono/perseo-trionfante.html

Medusa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/metmuseum/

Arts Council England: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/ | https://www.instagram.com/aceagrams

Undercover Softness, essay: https://www.scribd.com/document/134491812/Undercover-Softness-Architecture-and-Politics-of-Oecay-By-Reza-Negarestani

Reza Negarestani: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Negarestani

Brighton CCA: https://brightoncca.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/brightoncca/

Sophie Williamson: https://www.williamsonwords.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/williamsonwords/

Daria Khan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-khan-4616a7181/?originalSubdomain=uk

Mimosa House: https://www.mimosahouse.co.uk/ | http://instagram.com/mimosahouselondon

Ron Mandos Gallery: https://ronmandos.nl/ | https://www.instagram.com/galerieronmandos/

Franz Kafka: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka

Noire Gallery: https://www.noiregallery.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/noiregallery/

Virginia Woolf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Woolf

The Installation Art Podcast is a bi-weekly show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation.

The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.

Follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening to this podcast to never miss a show.

Find us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/

More information about the show and previous episodes: www.installationartpodcast.com

Your host Anastasia Parmson: www.anastasiaparmson.art | https://www.instagram.com/anastasiaparmson.art/

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