NIOSHKA’S STORY

Nioshka was born with art coursing through her blood, a natural state of being.

Her Mother being an avid and accomplished artist herself; a painter, weaver, poet, songwriter, architect and Graphic Designer, naturally immersed Nioshka in the knowledge, skills, curiosity and lifestyle of creatively exploring artistic endeavors from the beginning. One of Nioshka’s earliest memories is of her Mother composing all her favorite dolls before her, handing over pencil and paper to Nioshka to draw and capture the beauty that surrounds her. As a result Nioshka remembers from childhood drawing her dolls far more than playing with them.

Born in Minsk, Belarus (formerly part of the USSR), her childhood was highly influenced by the mystic and often surreal nature of Russian folklore, illustrations and stories, these remain major elements in her imagination as an artist. Her family immigrated to Jerusalem when she was four years old, living in a small village outside of the city. Nioshka spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the desert, immersed in the vast, arid and ancient environment. For her this land has a huge amount of energy, being the epicentre of religions, the diversity of culture and tension of conflict.

“You feel the 1000’s of years of history within the stones, trees, architecture and cultures that went before. It’s power is immense and energy overwhelming, even maddening.”

NIOSHKA

Nioshka’s training as an artist was predominantly from the home, with both her parents and older siblings, teaching, encouraging, giving discipline and a framework to her life and identity as an artist. During a year of study in Fine Arts at the Wizo Haifa Academy of Design, Israel, her skills were refined and honed. Through the experience Nioshka gained confidence as an artist and began her journey of balancing her personal aspirations within art with how she may share her creativity and make a living.

Nioshka began her career as a tattooist in her early twenties, finding within it a path to weave her love for illustration and desire to focus her income through art. Now having more than 10 years experience as a tattooist, Nioshka only tattoos her own artwork on clients and has worked Freelance and in Studios through Israel, Goa (India) and in Melbourne, (Australia). In addition Nioshka has exhibited her illustrations in both solo and group shows within Israel in 2016 and Australia in 2018, enjoying the approach and atmosphere of underground creative communities as a platform for exhibition.

Nioshka began a new chapter in 2017, following her heart, she moved to Melbourne, Australia. Although moving to a new country, community and learning a new language comes with many challenges, she has found a vibration that nurtures her creativity. Nioshka finds nature inspiring, and although enjoys the pulse and chaos of city life, has found true harmony living within the peaceful and nourishing Dandenong ranges with her husband. She has found a place where she can truly expand as an artist and embrace new projects, skills and opportunities.

“I feel most in tune with myself when surrounded by chattering of birds, buzzing of bees, the variety and colour of plants at my doorstep and sound of wind in the trees.”

NIOSHKA

STYLE & APPROACH

For Nioshka, first comes a moment, whether a dream, story or experience, it sets in motion the vision of a story unfolding, running through her mind's eye. It’s these moments that inspire an illustration, a painting or sculpture, each sharing a unique story, a modern day folktale of spirit.

Within Nioshka’s art and style; she often feels her roots in Russia ignite her fascination with folklore and bring the magical and mystic to her work, while her youth in the desert weave in the darkness and shadows, the tribal and ancient quality. This can be easily observed in her artwork, where there is a constant dance between black and white. Black creating vast dark regions, and fine detail, where white, the negative space invokes spirit, symbolism and storytelling.

“The dance between dark and light is an exploration of how different tribal cultures have dealt with spirit, consciousness, evolution, and their relationship to nature. I believe there is much to learn from our collective past, which can inform how we interact with nature and each other, in the present and the future.”

NIOSHKA

The other potent ingredient to Nioshka’s work is nature in all its diversity and beauty; landscapes, animals, plant and herbal medicine and the elements, and it’s through this where colour often creeps into her work, through soft touches of watercolour, or strong present embellishments of coloured ink. Through nature, she sees spirit, that effervescent quality, beyond what can easily be seen with our eyes, it is there, just behind the veil, that Nioshka finds inspiration and threads to stories she feels must be told through art. Through combining plants, animals, pattern and texture, in a surreal collage and juxtaposition of elements, Nioshka is able to capture the dreamscape quality of her folk inspired stories of Spirit.

ART INSPIRES

The most inspirational aspect of art for Niohska, is its ability to connect everyone. It defies age, colour, culture, religion and context. It creates a space where the higher self of everyone in existence can connect, can communicate and can begin to speak and feel a common thread of empathy and understanding. It’s through the completely immersive nature of art that beauty can be found and appreciated. Art can teach us how to heal, to empathize and to appreciate.