BIOGRAPHY
Nicola Canavan's practice is rooted in action based performance and spans live work, documentations of its products & traces and the re presentation of these in other forms. She questions notions of beauty, pain and expectation through a poetry which transforms brutal acts into tender and generous anecdotes of allegiance.
By acknowledging and resisting the sacred and divine, Canavan installs layers of symbol through the modification and manipulation of the flesh, and pursues rituals that transcend the body. She thrives on the richness and allure of visual language, using performance and interactions to reflect on experience, using living marks from her skin to draw longer, deeper and more profound images haunted by a body once known.
There is an inherent contradiction between the physical demands Canavan places upon her body and the stillness that is matched by the slow passage of time.
Born in North East England (UK), Nicola Canavan has been performing and showing work nationally and internationally since 2007 within programmes such as Momentum Festival (Brussels), ]performance s p a c e[ (London), Inbetween Time Festival (Bristol), City of Women (Ljubljana) and SPILL National Platform (Ipswitch). She has collaborated with Photographer Predrag Pajdic, Photographer & Film Maker Manuel Vason, artists Kris Canavan (Husband) and Ernst Fischer and has recently been awarded the Artsadmin Bursary and the Artists International Development Fund from Arts Council England and the British Council. Canavan is an amino associate artist.
By acknowledging and resisting the sacred and divine, Canavan installs layers of symbol through the modification and manipulation of the flesh, and pursues rituals that transcend the body. She thrives on the richness and allure of visual language, using performance and interactions to reflect on experience, using living marks from her skin to draw longer, deeper and more profound images haunted by a body once known.
There is an inherent contradiction between the physical demands Canavan places upon her body and the stillness that is matched by the slow passage of time.
Born in North East England (UK), Nicola Canavan has been performing and showing work nationally and internationally since 2007 within programmes such as Momentum Festival (Brussels), ]performance s p a c e[ (London), Inbetween Time Festival (Bristol), City of Women (Ljubljana) and SPILL National Platform (Ipswitch). She has collaborated with Photographer Predrag Pajdic, Photographer & Film Maker Manuel Vason, artists Kris Canavan (Husband) and Ernst Fischer and has recently been awarded the Artsadmin Bursary and the Artists International Development Fund from Arts Council England and the British Council. Canavan is an amino associate artist.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS/PERFORMANCE/EVENTS
For future events see NEWS page
AWARDS
ARTSADMIN BURSARY Recipient 2013 (https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/artists/nicola-canavan)
Artist International Development Fund - Awarded by Arts Council England and the British Council, Autumn 2012
Arts Council England Funded Performance Award - Untangling 2011
Arts Council England Funded Performance Award - I Miss You 2010
Past Performances
2012
'Breaking in Belonging' with Kris Canavan - A.K.A.B, Sheffield
'A Divine Trauma' - Fringe Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, London
'PASSION|FLOWER' with Ernst Fischer - ]performance s p a c e[ - London with Thanks to Thomas John Bacon
3/10/2012 'Bittersweet' - at City of Women Festival, ŠKUC Gallery | Ljubljana, Slovenia (http://www.cityofwomen.org/)
5/10/2012 - Artist Talk - as part of City of Women Festival, Slovenia (http://www.cityofwomen.org/)
11/10/2012 'A Divine Trauma' - at City of Women Festival, at The Old Power Station | Ljubljana, Slovenia (http://www.cityofwomen.org/)
12/10/2012 - Book launch performance for 'Beneath the Shadows the Soul Walks' by Predrag Pajdic and JL Nash, New performance dedicated to the love and support of Mr Pajdic | Shangrila Tattoo Parlour, Unit 107, 54 - 58 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DP
31/10/2012 - 'A Divine Trauma' - Opening double bill at Spill National Platform, (http://www.spillfestival.com/performance/spill-opening-night-double-bill-a-divine-trauma/)
23/11/2012 - 'ORIGINS' with Jon John, MODERN PANIC III - Geurilla Zoo, London UK (http://www.guerrillazoo.com/modern-panic-3.html)
2011
'When Rivers Run into the Sea' - [111111] In Remembrance, Manchester (www.inremembrance.org.uk)
''Bittersweet' - Platform P, Plymouth
‘Red Stitches on a White Crow [p ii]’, Emergency Accommodation, Manchester
‘Red Stitches on a White Crow’, ]performance s p a c e[ - London (http://www.performancespace.org)
2010
‘Untangling’ Inbetween Time Festival, Arnolofini - Bristol (Arts Council Funded)
‘I Miss You (ii)’ ACTART-8 CENSORED, Islington Metal Works-London (Arts Council Funded)
2009
‘361 Days’ Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of), Platform00000009, Newcastle
2008
‘Love is…?’ Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of), Bodily Functions, Cork
‘Private View’ Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of), Momentum Festival, Brussels
2007
‘Blood is the colour of love’ Platform - Star and Shadow, Newcastle upon Tyne
Selected Events/Exhibitions
2012
'PASSION/FLOWER' - by and with Ernst Fischer, Performance to Camera, filmed and Edited by Manuel Vason
Collaboration with Predrag Pajdic, UK
2011
Residency, 25SG with Kris Canavan & Photographic Collaboration with Arto Polus, Newcastle- upon-Tyne (www.25SG.org)
2010
‘Bittersweet', Photograph of Collaboration with Fiona Nicholl chosen by Newworknetwork to feature in their marketing postcards (www.newworknetwork.info/advocating/287)
Bittersweet Exhibition, Doswell Gallery – West Cork, Ireland (http://www.bittersweet-exhibition.com/)
‘OVA’, an artist-led exhibition in Newcastle upon Tyne.
‘Bittersweet’ Photographic Collaboration with Fiona Nicholl (www.purplepom.com)
‘Stay...’ Photographic Collaboration with Fiona Nicholl (www.purplepom.com)
"Ode to Hel..." (Experimental short film) - Collaboration with Gareth Hudson, NEW MEDIA,SEX AND CULTURE – MONA, DETROIT (USA)
2009
‘NatureNurture’ Photographic Collaboration with Francois Boutemy, Simulacra Studios, London
‘I Miss You (i)’ Photographic Collaboration with Francois Boutemy, Simulacra Studios, London
2008
"Ode to Hel..." (Experimental short film) - Collaboration with Gareth Hudson - Shown at the Following venues in 2008
Cinéma Le Mélies - PORT DE BOUC (FRANCE)/ SQUARE EYES FESTIVAL (NETHERLANDS)/ ONE MINUTE FILM & VIDEOFESTIVAL (SWITZERLAND)/ PANTHEON INTERNATIONAL XPERIMENTAL FILM & ANIMATION FESTIVAL (CYPRUS)
2007
Culture Work (formerly NCSP) Funded Mentoring with Jack Sargeant (www.jacktext.net) 2007-2008
‘Blood is the colour of love’ Platform - Star and Shadow, Newcastle upon Tyne
‘Drawing Beauty, [series ii]’ Photographic Collaboration with Antonio Genco
‘Separation Anxiety’ Photographic Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of) & Antonio Genco
AWARDS
ARTSADMIN BURSARY Recipient 2013 (https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/artists/nicola-canavan)
Artist International Development Fund - Awarded by Arts Council England and the British Council, Autumn 2012
Arts Council England Funded Performance Award - Untangling 2011
Arts Council England Funded Performance Award - I Miss You 2010
Past Performances
2012
'Breaking in Belonging' with Kris Canavan - A.K.A.B, Sheffield
'A Divine Trauma' - Fringe Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, London
'PASSION|FLOWER' with Ernst Fischer - ]performance s p a c e[ - London with Thanks to Thomas John Bacon
3/10/2012 'Bittersweet' - at City of Women Festival, ŠKUC Gallery | Ljubljana, Slovenia (http://www.cityofwomen.org/)
5/10/2012 - Artist Talk - as part of City of Women Festival, Slovenia (http://www.cityofwomen.org/)
11/10/2012 'A Divine Trauma' - at City of Women Festival, at The Old Power Station | Ljubljana, Slovenia (http://www.cityofwomen.org/)
12/10/2012 - Book launch performance for 'Beneath the Shadows the Soul Walks' by Predrag Pajdic and JL Nash, New performance dedicated to the love and support of Mr Pajdic | Shangrila Tattoo Parlour, Unit 107, 54 - 58 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DP
31/10/2012 - 'A Divine Trauma' - Opening double bill at Spill National Platform, (http://www.spillfestival.com/performance/spill-opening-night-double-bill-a-divine-trauma/)
23/11/2012 - 'ORIGINS' with Jon John, MODERN PANIC III - Geurilla Zoo, London UK (http://www.guerrillazoo.com/modern-panic-3.html)
2011
'When Rivers Run into the Sea' - [111111] In Remembrance, Manchester (www.inremembrance.org.uk)
''Bittersweet' - Platform P, Plymouth
‘Red Stitches on a White Crow [p ii]’, Emergency Accommodation, Manchester
‘Red Stitches on a White Crow’, ]performance s p a c e[ - London (http://www.performancespace.org)
2010
‘Untangling’ Inbetween Time Festival, Arnolofini - Bristol (Arts Council Funded)
‘I Miss You (ii)’ ACTART-8 CENSORED, Islington Metal Works-London (Arts Council Funded)
2009
‘361 Days’ Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of), Platform00000009, Newcastle
2008
‘Love is…?’ Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of), Bodily Functions, Cork
‘Private View’ Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of), Momentum Festival, Brussels
2007
‘Blood is the colour of love’ Platform - Star and Shadow, Newcastle upon Tyne
Selected Events/Exhibitions
2012
'PASSION/FLOWER' - by and with Ernst Fischer, Performance to Camera, filmed and Edited by Manuel Vason
Collaboration with Predrag Pajdic, UK
2011
Residency, 25SG with Kris Canavan & Photographic Collaboration with Arto Polus, Newcastle- upon-Tyne (www.25SG.org)
2010
‘Bittersweet', Photograph of Collaboration with Fiona Nicholl chosen by Newworknetwork to feature in their marketing postcards (www.newworknetwork.info/advocating/287)
Bittersweet Exhibition, Doswell Gallery – West Cork, Ireland (http://www.bittersweet-exhibition.com/)
‘OVA’, an artist-led exhibition in Newcastle upon Tyne.
‘Bittersweet’ Photographic Collaboration with Fiona Nicholl (www.purplepom.com)
‘Stay...’ Photographic Collaboration with Fiona Nicholl (www.purplepom.com)
"Ode to Hel..." (Experimental short film) - Collaboration with Gareth Hudson, NEW MEDIA,SEX AND CULTURE – MONA, DETROIT (USA)
2009
‘NatureNurture’ Photographic Collaboration with Francois Boutemy, Simulacra Studios, London
‘I Miss You (i)’ Photographic Collaboration with Francois Boutemy, Simulacra Studios, London
2008
"Ode to Hel..." (Experimental short film) - Collaboration with Gareth Hudson - Shown at the Following venues in 2008
Cinéma Le Mélies - PORT DE BOUC (FRANCE)/ SQUARE EYES FESTIVAL (NETHERLANDS)/ ONE MINUTE FILM & VIDEOFESTIVAL (SWITZERLAND)/ PANTHEON INTERNATIONAL XPERIMENTAL FILM & ANIMATION FESTIVAL (CYPRUS)
2007
Culture Work (formerly NCSP) Funded Mentoring with Jack Sargeant (www.jacktext.net) 2007-2008
‘Blood is the colour of love’ Platform - Star and Shadow, Newcastle upon Tyne
‘Drawing Beauty, [series ii]’ Photographic Collaboration with Antonio Genco
‘Separation Anxiety’ Photographic Collaboration with Kris Canavan (Anatomy_of) & Antonio Genco
Photograph taken from performance to Camera 'NatureNurture' 2009, Photographer Francois Boutemy
