Statement
Fascination with history and culture contained in objects is expressed throughout my work. Observing and studying formal aspects of artifacts as well as learning their meanings and histories drives me to create their contemporary renderings. I am interested in the material culture, in its expression and interpretation. Decoration and surface are my main basis for the transmission of a concept. Abandoning current trends of minimal, modern/postmodern and purely conceptual, I take ORNAMENTAL as a subject and symbol of the old and new - the spiral movement of history.
The object as a power tool is crucial to communicate ideas. In that respect archaeological or museum (historical) objects are of great importance. They tell us a story and contain layers of information and significance that form our understanding of cultures and history. Cultural luggage and heritage is what makes us who we are. The narratives created through the agency of relics are a base of our collective consciousness, however in the contemporary world the axis of histories has been shifted through the displacement historical objects. High saturation of history in select few centers creates hyper culture whilst stripping its owners of the rights to it. One singular object is never enough for a full picture, it is rather through a group or sequence, a composition of them that those speculations and theories can be made. Acting as a ‘collector’ of surfaces, ideas and shapes I seek to assemble an eternal universe of my own.
CV
Education
— Royal College of Art, UK. 2014-2016 MA Ceramics
— Parsons Paris, Paris, France. 2009-2013 BFA Fine Arts
— Emily Carr University Vancouver, Canada. 2011 Study abroad
— State N.K.Roerich College. 2007- 2009 Saint-Petersburg.Russia
Exhibitions
Solo/Duo
— FRACAS. Brussels, Belgium. 2019
— Cultural Landscape.Part 2.(Solo) Galerie de l’ancienne poste. Toucy, France. 2017
— FOUNT. British Ceramic Biennale commission. AirSpace gallery. Stoke-on- Trent. Sept. 2017
Group
— In our absent dialogues. Warbling Collective. London 2020
— Touching Transcendence. White Conduit Projects. London 2020
— Van Eyck’s Colours in Design, Design Museum Ghent. Belgium 2020
— Architects at Play. CIVA . Brussels 2019
— Ceramics in Love... TWO. Castellamonte, Italy. 2019
— PIECEMEALS. Eccleston project space, London. 2019
— Nakanojo Biennial 2019. Nakanojo, Gunma, Japan. 2019
— In the spot light. Morley College Gallery, London 2019
— Artworks Open. Barbican Art Trust. London . 2018
— Ceramics at Doddington Hall Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire, UK. 2018
— GICB Competition. Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale. Korea. April 2017
— LIMBIC. ArtHub, London. March 2017
— Ibero-American Arts Award Exhibition. Brazilian Embassy. London. November 2016
— The Ingram Collection’s inaugural Purchase Prize Exhibition for Young Contemporary
— Talent. Cello Factory. London. November 2016
Residencies/Workshops
— Villa Lena, Italy. 2020
— Residence La Borne, France. 2020
— Shangyu Ceramic Centre, Shangyu. China . May- June. 2018
— Beirut Art Residency. Beirut, Lebanon. Artist in residence. Jan.- Feb. 2018
— The Florence Trust, London, UK. studio artist in residence program. 2016 - 2017
— The Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park, Shiga, Japan. artist in residence program. 2014
— Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Yorkshire,UK. collaboration residency with Anton Burdakov. 2015
Art Fairs
— Collectible Fair. Fracas. Brussels 2020
— London Art Fair. White Conduit Projects. London 2020
— London Art Fair. Square Art Projects. London 2019
Competitions
— Developing Your Creative Practice Arts Council England. Artist Project Grant. October 2018
— ArtePrize2017. Shortlisted. 2017
— The Eaton Fund. Artist Project Grant. 2017
— West Dean Tapestry Commission Open Call. Commendation by selection committee. 2016
Publications/Press
— COLLECT n. 492 p.97 September 2019
— La revue de la céramique et du verre.p N. 223. Novembre- December 2018
— Connaissance des arts. Nouveau Talent. p 110 - 111. September 2017
— Arts Magazine International . n 10 Nouvelle serie. p.20 September 2017
— L’Oeil. N 706. Galleries. P.120. November 2017
— Cultural Landscape. Elena Gileva. Exhibition catalogue. 2017
— Florence Trust 2017 catalogue. 2017
— Calvert Journal. Elena Gileva’s striking sculptures wrestle with Russia’s past. 8 July 2016
— Syrup magazine. Issue 1. 2016
Industry Experience
— Morley College HND Ceramics Hourly Staff. 2018- ongoing.
— Victoria and Albert Museum. Workshop tutor. 2017
— Camden Arts Centre. Workshop tutor. 2017
Contact
contact@elena-gileva.com
Statement
Fascination with history and culture contained in objects is expressed throughout my work. Observing and studying formal aspects of artifacts as well as learning their meanings and histories drives me to create their contemporary renderings. I am interested in the material culture, in its expression and interpretation. Decoration and surface are my main basis for the transmission of a concept. Abandoning current trends of minimal, modern/postmodern and purely conceptual, I take ORNAMENTAL as a subject and symbol of the old and new - the spiral movement of history.
The object as a power tool is crucial to communicate ideas. In that respect archaeological or museum (historical) objects are of great importance. They tell us a story and contain layers of information and significance that form our understanding of cultures and history. Cultural luggage and heritage is what makes us who we are. The narratives created through the agency of relics are a base of our collective consciousness, however in the contemporary world the axis of histories has been shifted through the displacement historical objects. High saturation of history in select few centers creates hyper culture whilst stripping its owners of the rights to it. One singular object is never enough for a full picture, it is rather through a group or sequence, a composition of them that those speculations and theories can be made. Acting as a ‘collector’ of surfaces, ideas and shapes I seek to assemble an eternal universe of my own.
CV
Education
— Royal College of Art, UK. 2014-2016 MA Ceramics
— Parsons Paris, Paris, France. 2009-2013 BFA Fine Arts
— Emily Carr University Vancouver, Canada. 2011 Study abroad
— State N.K.Roerich College. 2007- 2009 Saint-Petersburg.Russia
Exhibitions
Solo/Duo
— FRACAS. Brussels, Belgium. 2019
— Cultural Landscape.Part 2.(Solo) Galerie de l’ancienne poste. Toucy, France. 2017
— FOUNT. British Ceramic Biennale commission. AirSpace gallery. Stoke-on- Trent. Sept. 2017
Group
— In our absent dialogues. Warbling Collective. London 2020
— Touching Transcendence. White Conduit Projects. London 2020
— Van Eyck’s Colours in Design, Design Museum Ghent. Belgium 2020
— Architects at Play. CIVA . Brussels 2019
— Ceramics in Love... TWO. Castellamonte, Italy. 2019
— PIECEMEALS. Eccleston project space, London. 2019
— Nakanojo Biennial 2019. Nakanojo, Gunma, Japan. 2019
— In the spot light. Morley College Gallery, London 2019
— Artworks Open. Barbican Art Trust. London . 2018
— Ceramics at Doddington Hall Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire, UK. 2018
— GICB Competition. Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale. Korea. April 2017
— LIMBIC. ArtHub, London. March 2017
— Ibero-American Arts Award Exhibition. Brazilian Embassy. London. November 2016
— The Ingram Collection’s inaugural Purchase Prize Exhibition for Young Contemporary
— Talent. Cello Factory. London. November 2016
Residencies/Workshops
— Villa Lena, Italy. 2020
— Residence La Borne, France. 2020
— Shangyu Ceramic Centre, Shangyu. China . May- June. 2018
— Beirut Art Residency. Beirut, Lebanon. Artist in residence. Jan.- Feb. 2018
— The Florence Trust, London, UK. studio artist in residence program. 2016 - 2017
— The Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park, Shiga, Japan. artist in residence program. 2014
— Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Yorkshire,UK. collaboration residency with Anton Burdakov. 2015
Art Fairs
— Collectible Fair. Fracas. Brussels 2020
— London Art Fair. White Conduit Projects. London 2020
— London Art Fair. Square Art Projects. London 2019
Competitions
— Developing Your Creative Practice Arts Council England. Artist Project Grant. October 2018
— ArtePrize2017. Shortlisted. 2017
— The Eaton Fund. Artist Project Grant. 2017
— West Dean Tapestry Commission Open Call. Commendation by selection committee. 2016
Publications/Press
— COLLECT n. 492 p.97 September 2019
— La revue de la céramique et du verre.p N. 223. Novembre- December 2018
— Connaissance des arts. Nouveau Talent. p 110 - 111. September 2017
— Arts Magazine International . n 10 Nouvelle serie. p.20 September 2017
— L’Oeil. N 706. Galleries. P.120. November 2017
— Cultural Landscape. Elena Gileva. Exhibition catalogue. 2017
— Florence Trust 2017 catalogue. 2017
— Calvert Journal. Elena Gileva’s striking sculptures wrestle with Russia’s past. 8 July 2016
— Syrup magazine. Issue 1. 2016
Industry Experience
— Morley College HND Ceramics Hourly Staff. 2018- ongoing.
— Victoria and Albert Museum. Workshop tutor. 2017
— Camden Arts Centre. Workshop tutor. 2017