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Artist Statement:
In a landscape of intensifying industrial production there is an ease in object replication and therefore disposability. Yet, the mundane items surrounding us are marked by sentiment of daily usage. We attach to these objects through intimacies of memory and form a spiritual connection. My practice allows me to attribute nostalgia by liberating personal memorabilia. This installation at once memorializes romantic notions and permits their reconfiguration in the public eye.
1. What are 1-3 books that have influenced your life?
The Idiot by Fydor Dostoyevsky, How to read Lacan by Slavoj Zizek and currently reading The Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
2. What are you currently working on?
The sculpture displayed in this exhibition - How to traverse a vessel, is my most current work.
3. How has failure set you up for later success? What was your favorite failure?
I think all the different ways the materials can misbehave and transform into sculpture has allowed me to learn from the process. It is difficult to tell when a work is a success or failure, I think that is a good sign when it is difficult to pin something down.
4. What is your most unusual habit?
I’ve been collecting earrings and photographs I find on the street.
5. If you could have any painter, living or dead paint your portrait who would it be and why?
This one is easy – Lauren Woods, the artist I am showing with in this exhibition.
6. What is the most indispensable item in your studio/workspace/office? What is your studio like? Could you share an image?
All items are temporary and only in the context of a sculpture they can seem indispensable, so I think any found object in my sculpture is precious in that way.
7. When you feel overwhelmed or uninspired what do you do? What do you do to get out of a funk? What questions do you ask yourself?
I always have ideas that I either remember or have noted or sketched. I often don’t have enough time to execute all my ideas.
8. Who/What influences your work?
People of great dedication and devotion influence my practice, this often points to those who are exercising faith or unconditional love. I am influenced by the time-period when Victorian society encountered the age of mechanical reproduction. I think we are still going through that encounter and are still very much negotiating sentiment within materialism.
9. Do you collect anything?
I have a small and growing art collection.
10. What words of advice would you give to your younger self?
Work hard, be disciplined in the studio.
11. In the last five years what new belief, or habit has most improved your life or studio practice?
Time management and knowing what I need to accomplish in a certain day and sticking to that plan and schedule.
12. Share an inspiring image.
Dive deeper into Nikita's work in person OR online through artsy!
James May Gallery | 2201 N Farwell, Milwaukee, WI | 262-753-3130
HOW TO TRAVERSE A VESSEL featuring Lauren Woods & Nikita Vishnevskiy runs until Oct 26.
See more of Lauren's work and follow her here: ARTSY
See what is happening at the gallery:
Please continue to support us by visiting us in person at our new location: 2201 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee or check out our Artsy page.
Feel free to contact us:
mail@jamesmaygallery.com 262-753-3130
HOURS: Thur 10:30-5:30 Fri 11- 5:30 Sat 10:30-5:30