NBB Magazine

Viardin's humanoid figures evoke feelings of melancholy, sadness but also of comfort and hope. Dealing with utopian visions, the French artist based in Paris draws inspiration from his practical experience as a graphic designer, but also from great science fiction authors which have impacted the philosophy behind his artistic practice. In this interview we will get an insight into these mysterious figures depicted in his works and answer questions such as whether art is capable of conveying specifically articulated messages. Do you have any specific artistic influences that have impacted your artistic approach and/or the choice of themes? A lot...

This month NBB Gallery had the honor to talk with Yevgeniya Baras, an artist who is also a university professor. Even before graduating from the Art Institute of Chicago in 2007, Baras devoted herself to making art from deeply personal perspective. In an interview accompanying her first solo exhibition at NBB titled "Change of Heart" opening on November 17, we asked Baras about the specific materials she uses for her canvases as well as how teaching has impacted her art practice. It is interesting how you interact with your artwork, where inspiration seems fluid and the painting is completed over...

  When looking back at all the artworks that at some point made their way to the NBB Gallery, one thing becomes apparent: Cats are a topic of many exhibited paintings and drawings. As one of the most beloved pets, cats have naturally always been subjects of artworks and play their own part of the history of art. Cats were worshiped by the ancient Egyptians but feared for their mysterious nocturnal lifestyle in the Middle-Ages. During the 19th Century sort of a cat renaissance happened thanks to impressionism and today there is an abundance of pet photos and even celebrity...

A tomato, a Mercedes-Benz car, a uterus, a fish or a bottle of Coca-Cola. The Ghanaian artist Paa Joe and his workshop create coffins of almost all shapes possible. Catering for the local as well as international clients, Joe’s coffins are even parts of private and museum art collections. Originally called “abebu adekai” – meaning “receptacles of proverbs” – these coffins are known to the public with the attributes such as figurative, fantasy, custom or fantastic. The highly personalized coffins accompany the deceased on their journey to the other side while referring to their occupation, social status or sometimes their...

Yam Shalev is an emerging Israeli artist in his mid-twenties who one day decided to move from Tel Aviv to Berlin to pursue art. NBB Gallery visited him in his cozy studio in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen to talk about his artistic growth and life. Read further to find out why he does not own a laptop and how he preserves memories through art. Yam welcomed us with what is typical for his newest paintings: Drinks, fresh fruits and croissants put neatly on a coffee table. Painting still-lives with motifs from brunches and picnics has been Yam’s preferred subject these days. If you...