Liana Nigri

Artists in residence
01.09.2016 - 30.11.2016

A Brazilian artist deeply interested in Bio Art, more specifically in the intersection of botany and art. For the past 11 year, Liana has been working as a surface designer – mastered in Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins, London – UK.

Being based in New York City for the past 4 years, she did her first art residency at SVA (School of Visual Arts) – BioArt From the Laboratory to the Studio – she used the laboratory and took advantage of its resources in order to broaden the “AfterLife” project, which consists so far in three series: Microscope Series, Rare Species, and Lasting Leaves.

Through microscope photographs, the artist exposes the transitions happening on the realm of flora while showing how qualities like radiance, softness and saturation could suddenly turn opaque, rigid and dull. This registration starts from fresh organic materials and follows its path through the process of withering, and capturing each step narrowly.

In her installations, Liana intends to test the fragility of flower’s surfaces. By using its carcass, she creates sculptures and mobiles that reminds the viewer of the ‘memento mori’. Her work intends to transform the sadness, grief and darkness of death into a new perception of beauty, attributing new elements and sensations to it. As this fragile structure could easily break, she uses botanical illustration, like in the old times, as an important tool to assist the registration and identification of new species.

As a surface designer, her first instinct is to produce a visual and tactile memories, so in 2015, Liana started to explore a new cellular material produced by harmless bacteria called “scoby”. This organic media gives her the opportunity to create a new tissue eternalizing textures and shape of the plants, making those attributes immortal.

Either if it is through photography, drawing, or installation, her work is all inspired by elements of nature versus the idea of time passing – and the notion of impermanence. Her research consists in observing the changes happening on the surface of flowers and plants throughout their various stages of life. Through this process, the artist invites everyone to take a closer look at flowers and plants in decay revealing beauty where many may not see it.

Pictures Gallery
To be posted soon