Macedonian artist Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva works across sculpture, installation, video, photography and architectural intervention, with materials ranging from the ephemeral and precious to the downright strange.<br /><br />
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Making Beauty Sculpture (2016), installed at Djanogly Gallery —
Macedonian artist Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva works across sculpture, installation, video, photography and architectural intervention, with materials ranging from the ephemeral and precious to the downright strange.
photo Nick Dunmur, courtesy Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery
She works using animal organs, transforming the perishable waste products into artistic materials via a chemical process akin to embalming.
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Making Beauty Sculpture (2016), installed at Djanogly Gallery —
She works using animal organs, transforming the perishable waste products into artistic materials via a chemical process akin to embalming.
photo Nick Dunmur, courtesy Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery
With a grant from the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellcome.ac.uk" target="_blank" target="_blank">Wellcome Trust,</a> Hadzi-Vasileva has been collaborating with UK medical research centers to create sculptural and sound works focusing on digestive diseases and inspired by medical processes and technologies, made using organs.
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Skate Wings, (2011) installed at Djanogly Gallery —
With a grant from the Wellcome Trust, Hadzi-Vasileva has been collaborating with UK medical research centers to create sculptural and sound works focusing on digestive diseases and inspired by medical processes and technologies, made using organs.
photo Nick Dunmur, courtesy Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery
"I've spent years and years trying to preserve certain things in different ways. Skin is no problem, but organs are very hard to keep alive. They're fragile."
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Ladies Purse 4 (2011), installed at Djanogly Gallery, photo Nick Dunmur —
"I've spent years and years trying to preserve certain things in different ways. Skin is no problem, but organs are very hard to keep alive. They're fragile."
photo Nick Dunmur, courtesy Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery
For her solo exhibition at the Djanogly Gallery in Nottingham, Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva will show "Haruspex" -- a piece commissioned for last year's Venice Biennale -- which responds to the scriptural verse "In the Beginning... the Word became flesh." <br />At the center of the installation is a chalice-like form made from a cow's stomach.
"Haruspex" (2015) by Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva at the Arsenale di Venezia, Holy See Pavilion, 56th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia —
For her solo exhibition at the Djanogly Gallery in Nottingham, Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva will show "Haruspex" -- a piece commissioned for last year's Venice Biennale -- which responds to the scriptural verse "In the Beginning... the Word became flesh."
At the center of the installation is a chalice-like form made from a cow's stomach.
Photo: Bernard G Mills, © the artist, courtesy the artist
Working with very raw materials, the caul fat of the pig creates the canopy and walls of the "tent of meeting."
"Haruspex" (2015) by Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva at the Arsenale di Venezia, Holy See Pavilion, 56th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia —
Working with very raw materials, the caul fat of the pig creates the canopy and walls of the "tent of meeting."
Photo: Bernard G Mills, © the artist, courtesy the artist
This work -- first shown in Brighton -- explores the phenomenon of near-death experiences, focusing upon the light seen and discussed by those affected.
"Fragility" (2015) by Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva at Fabrica Gallery, Brighton —
This work -- first shown in Brighton -- explores the phenomenon of near-death experiences, focusing upon the light seen and discussed by those affected.
Photo Tom Thistlethwaite, courtesy the artist
Seen here in Djanogly Gallery, Hadzi-Vasileva has employed the architecture to route light through an animal membrane (in this instance, pigs' caul fat), juxtaposing experience and materiality.
Installation view of "Fragility" and "Haruspex" at Djanogly Gallery, Nottingham —
Seen here in Djanogly Gallery, Hadzi-Vasileva has employed the architecture to route light through an animal membrane (in this instance, pigs' caul fat), juxtaposing experience and materiality.
photo Nick Dunmur, courtesy of Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery
"Walking inside feels like you're entering the stomach itself. It creates a dialogue and opens up discussions, which for me can only be a good thing," the artist said.
Installation view of Fragility [detail] (2015) at Djanogly Gallery —
"Walking inside feels like you're entering the stomach itself. It creates a dialogue and opens up discussions, which for me can only be a good thing," the artist said.
courtesy of Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery
Metal also features in her work, such as this copper wire piece which has images of bowel mobility rendered within.
Installation view of Copper Wire Drawing (2016) at Djanogly Gallery —
Metal also features in her work, such as this copper wire piece which has images of bowel mobility rendered within.
photo Nick Dunmur, courtesy of Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and Djanogly Gallery