Nadezda Makhneva & Pippa Ward

Guildford Institute and Guildford Arts are pleased to offer the next exhibition of talented local artists:

NADIA McNEVA,  Plasticine Artist

Nadezda Makhneva (Nadia McNeva) is a self-taught Plasticine Artist.  Plasticine has transformed her world, bringing it to life with vibrant colours and endless possibilities

Her journey has been one of discovery, using this simple material to create intricate, expressive are that tells a story.  She aims to surprise and amaze people, showing the unexpected beauty and complexity that can be achieved with plasticine.

Her work is about challenging perceptions, revealing that this often-underestimate material is not just for children but a medium for serious, captivating art.  Through her creations, she hopes to share a bit of this magic, inspiring others to see the joy and creative potential in the world around them, especially in the simplest of things.

Email: nadia@crazyplasticine.art

Website: https://crazyplasticine.art/

PIPPA WARD, Environmental Artist

Pippa’s work often involves the gathering, manipulating and arranging of materials;  a combination of natural and man-made materials and objects. She looks at the effect they have on each other, and particularly man’s inevitable impact on nature.  In 2014 she started working with used plastics – bags, bottletops and fishing line … all materials and objects that do untold damage to our environment if left to biodegrade on their own. They are disposable and ubiquitous materials that we now have a love/hate relationship with. We rely on them and at times we desire them, even though we know the damage they are causing and will continue to cause.

The time she spends working and manipulating these plastics conjures up such opposing feelings … why elevate such an everyday item?  Why make them into something that is aesthetically pleasing? The degraded or discarded object calls to be given a second chance at existence and the repetitive and time-consuming methods she uses allow her the opportunity to consider their role.  She enjoys working on projects that simultaneously attract and repel. For example, the bottletops which hang in the institute, mimicking nature … the tops were once created to attract and appeal; they soon became unwanted and repellant, and then in an artwork they are given a chance to help us question their existence. This theme can be found running through most of my work.

Collecting is a large part of her work … the scavenging and gathering that is involved in the collection of objects is second nature to her … followed by a pleasure that comes from new ownership, and then a chance to create a taxonomy of sorts … acquisition, storage and expression through artwork.  The collections can be about materiality, commonality, differentiation, time, systematisation, control, use, nostalgia and desire, but never about value.

E: pippaward1@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE A PRIVATE VIEW EVENING ON 11 SEPTEMBER, 6.30PM – 7.30PM

ALL ARE INVITED TO MEET THE ARTISTS AND ENJOY A GLASS OF COMPLIMENTARY WINE