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
2014-2016 ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, UK – MA
2009-2013 PARSONS PARIS Paris, France – BFA Fine Arts.
2011 Sept. – Dec. EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY Vancouver, Canada – Study abroad
2011 July SACI Florence, Italy – Summer course
2007-2009 College N.K. Roerich SPB., Russia -Sculpture Major
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO
-Cultural Landscape. Part 2.Gallery de l’ancienne poste. Toucy, France. September- November 2017
– The Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park Japan. End of artist-in-residence show. June 2014
GROUP
-Nakanojo Biennale 2019 Nakanojo, Gunma, Japan 2019
-ArtWorks Open Barbican Arts Trust. London. 2018
– Ceramics at Doddington Hall Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire, UK. 2018
– FOUNT. British Ceramic Biennial Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. 2017
– GYEONGGI International Ceramic Biennale. Icheon.South Korea. April – May 2017
– Summer Show.Florence Trust. London. July 2017
– LIMBIC. ArtHub. London. 2017
– TRANS / ITIONS. ArtisTank launch exhibition.The Crypt Gallery.London. January 2017
-The Ingram Collection’s Inaugural Purchase Prize Exhibition for Young Contemporary Talent. London.Nov. 2016
-Ibero-American Arts Award Sala Brazil. London.November 2016
-Young Masters 4th edition Launch Exhibition.- Royal Opera Arcade gallery. London. October 2016
– Matter of Objects. Queen Victoria University. London. May 2016
– In Context. Private House Exhibition. South Kensington. London. March 2016
– The Established and The Emerging. Christie’s South Kensington. London. February 2016
– Ceramics Art London. Royal College of Art. April 2015.
– ART GEORGIA Paris. in collaboration with ADAL. January 2014.
ART FAIRS
London Art Fair. Square Art Projects. Dialogues. 2019
RESIDENCIES/WORKSHOPS
La Borne. La Borne, France. 2020
Villa Lena. Italy. 2019
Shangyu-Celadon. Shagyu, China. Artist in residence. May- June 2018
Beirut Art Residency. Beirut, Lebanon. Artist in residence. Jan.- Feb. 2018
International Ceramic Workshop.GICB17Icheon, South Korea. April 2017
The Florence Trust London,UK. Studio artist-in-residence. 2016/2017
Yorkshire Sculpture Park Yorkshire,UK. collaboration residency with Anton Burdakov.
July 2015.
International Ceramic Research Center: Guldagergaard, Skælskør Denmark. Nina
Hole Fire Sculpture Simposium. 2015.
The Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Park Shiga, Japan. artist in residence program, 2014.
COMPETITIONS
ArtePrize 2017.Shortlisted. November 2017.
Competition GICB17.High commendation. April 2017
West Dean Tapestry Commission Open Call.Commendation by selection committee. September 2016
Charlie Smith Anthology 2016. Long listed. August 2016
PUBLICATIONS/PRESS
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
GRANTS
Developing Your Creative Practice Arts Council England. October 2018
The Eaton Fund Artist Project Grant.UK. May 2017
