Nadia Zhaya (her)
Nadia Zhaya is a multimedia artist specializing in 3-dimensional art, kinetic sculpture, immersive spatial and site-specific installation. Utilizing conduits of glowing light, fire, fluid mediums, dynamic forces, and vivid aesthetics, the artist explores the universal and inexhaustible realms of spiritual and physical energy. The artist commonly explores the innate to every person energy realm, embodying the realm powers: Energy Axis, Axis on Fire and Axis Mundi are expressive of the intrinsic to a person axis of energy; the Formation mirrors the complexity of mental-emotional formations; the Explosion Realmembodies the ability and beauty of the universal innerworld realm. As an artist of international origin, through her work Zhaya uncovers and celebrates the universal spirituality and mentality as the common ground. Inspired by casually transcendental and inexhaustible in human experience, Zhaya creates works and installations as mesmerizing and empowering experiences. Zhaya holds a BA in Fine Art Sculpture and Environmental Art from the Glasgow School of Art.
Axis on fire
Axis on fire, 2023, kinetic fire sculpture, hologram, immersive installation
gsa degree show 2023
The pillar of light is one’s axis outside of oneself.
The formation of light and energy in the work is the vibrant core in one’s own world.
It’s what one holds and sees as light.
Device 1 100 x 50 x 30 cm
Device 2 187 x 110 x 30 cm
biofuel, turntable found by Arthur, fire-retardant mica, piano wire, fishing swivel, copper vessel, stainless steel
When the device is spinning, the air getting caught up in mesh, together with the spiral wing seizing the air, is fuelling the fire arisal inside.
The hologram is made from undistorted recordings of the activated device 1 in the dark, when the moving mesh goes invisible.
The device 2 is built as an adjustable structure on threaded rods and bolts: the spiral mesh wing can be folded tighter or opened up. The way the air’s coming in changes the fire behaviour, creating different character of light and energy.
The device 2 is slightly taller than a person, creating light larger than oneself.
The device 2 is specifically devised to be lit up in an indoor exhibition space. It is constructed according to a meticulous Health&Safety consideration, has many in-built precautions and is accompanied by a Risk assessment document.
Axis on fire is related with the house on fire in Tarkovsky, the Diogenes torch and the pillar of fire in Exodus.
Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi, 2020, kinetic sculpture x 2, Mclellan galleries
‘The metal pole is human height long. It is a parallel human body. It is a pendulum. It is a scaffolding. The wooden pole is a phallus. It is a totem pole. It is a found broomstick.’
Below is a video-sketch, exploring the kinetic work interaction that uncovers underlying energies, including the ways the audience interacted with the works at the opening.
A special thanks! to Ewelinka Dochan and Jack Iredale.
Formation
Formation (prev. The Thing), recycled plastics, human teeth, 30 x 30 x 100 cm, 2023, made by hand
Through its complexity, the sculpture mirrors the infinitely intricate workings of the human psyche. The crystallizations convey elaborate and interconnected mental and emotional formations, that are as organic as they are mysterious, unique, and unpredictable.
The sculpture is to never decay and together with the teeth in it fossilise in eternity.
Project Links
Encapsula
Encapsula, kinetic sculpture, luminescent with extracted chlorophyll and electrified from soldered naked wires, mixed media
Pipe factory, 2022
The closed-loop sculpture is inspired by the carbon cycle research by a PhD candidate Beth Langley. Made as part of Creative Reactions, Pint of Science festival.
The work is inspired by how carbon is captured and stored underwater, stratification intermixing, acidity rise. How plankton capturing the carbon blooms. How in the cycle chlorophyll in plants with sunlight turns carbon into oxygen.