Nika Neelova Russian artist. Date of Birth: 04.02.1987 Country: Russia

1. Biography of Nika Neelova
2. Early Art Education and Choice of Medium
3. Motivation and Choice of Sculpture and Installation Art
4. Inspiration and Themes in Nika's Work
5. Achievements and Future Plans

Biography of Nika Neelova

Nika Neelova is a Russian artist who gained recognition in the art world after winning the "New Sensations" award. She completed her studies in sculpture at Slade School of Fine Art in London last year. This prestigious award, organized by the Saatchi Gallery and Channel 4, showcases the work of thousands of graduates from art schools across the United Kingdom. Neelova's victory in this competition is a significant recognition of her talent as a sculptor and a fantastic start to her career in the London art market.

Before moving to the British capital, Nika lived in Paris for five years with her father, diplomat Kirill Gevorgyan, and her mother, renowned actress Marina Neelova. In the late 1990s, the family returned to Russia, and in 2003, Gevorgyan was appointed as the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands. In The Hague, 16-year-old Nika enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art, becoming the youngest applicant in its history. Now, she is in London, celebrating her victory in the "New Sensations" competition, and preparing for her upcoming solo exhibition at the Charlie Smith Gallery.

Early Art Education and Choice of Medium

Nika's artistic journey began in Russia, where she studied under the guidance of renowned artist Oleg Sheintsis at the "Lenkom" theater. She then enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague in 2008. Reflecting on her education in the academy, Nika explained that during the initial courses, students were exposed to various art forms such as painting, graphics, and sculpture. Later, each student chose a specific direction and received a studio to work in for the next four years. Nika acknowledged the challenges of working independently and the low percentage of graduates who pursue a career in the arts. Nevertheless, her passion and ambition kept her focused on her artistic path.

Motivation and Choice of Sculpture and Installation Art

When asked about her motivation to pursue art, especially sculpture and installation art, Nika shared that she was drawn to working in three-dimensional space from the very beginning. She found the process of creating and experiencing objects in space intriguing, leading her to explore new structures, materials, forms, and sizes. Nika's installations, known for their large scale and substantial material requirements, became a way for her to express her creativity. For example, one installation required 360 kilograms of burnt sugar. Financing her projects was a challenge, and Nika had to work various jobs, including gallery work, translation, and writing articles, to fund her installations.

Inspiration and Themes in Nika's Work

Nika revealed that her ideas for artworks emerge through a lengthy process of accumulating experiences, observations, and memories over months or even years. She often incorporates her own personal history and childhood memories into her works. Many of her installations reflect a sense of loss, whether it be the loss of childhood, history, or time. Nika's frequent relocations throughout her life, every five years, have influenced her reflections on transience and the fragility of existence. She always knew that she was coming to a place temporarily, and this impermanence has become an essential theme in her art. Since moving to London, her focus has shifted towards exploring the idea of ruins and the reinterpretation of history through memory and its distortions.

Achievements and Future Plans

Nika's artistic career has been marked by numerous accolades. Besides winning the "New Sensations" award, she has sold several installations to private collectors and galleries. Her works have been exhibited in renowned venues in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. In 2022, she is set to have two solo exhibitions, one at the Charlie Smith Gallery in London and another in Berlin. Despite her success, Nika acknowledges the need for more permanent spaces to create her large-scale installations. She currently rents a small studio but is actively searching for a larger workspace. Nika's multilingual abilities, fluently speaking French, Dutch, Russian, and English, have also contributed to her ability to navigate the cosmopolitan environment of London and engage with the international art community. Her perception of London as an artist is that it is a city that inspires her to create, responding to what she sees, feels, and experiences.