NIKA Project Space announces ‘Beghost,’ a solo exhibition by London-based artist Nika Neelova, running from May 17 to October 5, 2024. This exhibition will showcase sculptures crafted from materials such as glass, clay, and fossilised shark teeth, presenting a speculative vision of the ancient marine life that once thrived in Buhais Geology Park and Jebel Buhais in the Al Madam Plain (Sharjah, UAE). These new works will be displayed alongside fossils from the collection of archaeologist Nirmal Rajah, who led a 2015 expedition in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur district, contributing to the first English documentary on India’s paleontological remains.
‘Beghost’ traces the geological history of the Sharjah region, infusing the desert with the spirit of long-lost waters, whose fossilized remnants are embedded in the rocks. Neelova explores the vast materiality of geological history, illustrating how rock erodes into sand and clay, sand with silica becomes glass, and clay hardens upon exposure to air. Her sculptures reflect these natural processes, embodying the continuous metamorphosis of matter and merging chemistry, alchemy, and geology.
Inspired by Neelova’s research trip to the UAE in August 2022, supported by NIKA Project Space’s Residency & Research program, the artist envisions the prehistoric sea that once covered Arabia, imagining ancient waters beneath the dunes, transforming the landscape over 93 million years. The exhibition conjures an oceanic subconscious, where the desert is haunted by the memory of water.
Highlights include the ‘Medusa series’ (2023), featuring glass medusas crafted from antique chandelier fragments and handblown glass elements. These sculptures symbolise light and transparency, akin to their marine namesake. ‘And their phantoms’ (2023) presents a fragmented tree-like sculpture with fossilized shark teeth rose stems, juxtaposing the ephemeral nature of flowers with the deep temporality of fossils. ‘Stones’ (2023) captures human interaction with nature, resembling pockmarks on the planet’s skin. ‘Untitled’ (2021) showcases skeletal lemniscate sculptures, referencing the ouroboros, symbolising eternal cycles of destruction and rebirth, crafted from reclaimed handrails.
Sophie J. Williamson’s essay ‘Seepages’ complements the exhibition, exploring Reza Negarestani’s concept of decay as a flexible architecture, where all structures are perpetually unravelling. ‘Beghost’ encapsulates this idea, illustrating the transient nature of reality and the continuous material flux on Earth.
About Nika Neelova
Nika Neelova, based in London, holds a Master’s degree from the Slade School of Art and a BA from the Royal Art Academy, KABK. Her work has been exhibited widely, including solo shows like ‘Very Like a Whale’ at Santorini Museum (2023), ‘Thaw’ at Noire Gallery (2023), and ‘One of Many Fragments’ at the New Art Centre (2021). Group exhibitions include ‘(Everything) is Not What it Seems’ at Piran Coastal Galleries Museum (2023) and NITJA Museum (2022). Neelova has received multiple awards, including the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculptor Prize and the Saatchi New Sensations Award. Her large-scale sculptures depict complex, timeless environments and are part of numerous international collections.
About Nirmal Rajah
Nirmal Rajah, originally from India and now based in the UAE, is passionate about exploring and educating others about the natural world. He heads education at the Mleiha Archaeological Center in Sharjah and holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology, a master’s in biotechnology, and is about to begin his PhD. Since 2008, he has focused on evolutionary biology and palaeontology, collecting and studying fossils. Nirmal contributed to the first English documentary on India’s fossils in 2015 and co-founded a YouTube channel on natural history with over 123k subscribers. He authored a prehistoric fiction book and is a member of several scientific societies.
Location: Nika Project Space, Dubai
Dates: May 17 to October 5, 2024