Nikolay Milushev

Nikolay Milushev - Mixed Media


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Mr. Smiley Series
1. Flying Low, 2008, mixed media on paper 22" x 30"
2. Made in Hell, 2008, mixed media on paper 22" x 30"
3. Mr. Smiley, 2008, mixed media on paper 22" x 30"
4. Smileywood, 2008, mixed media on paper 22" x 30"
5. Voyeur, 2008, mixed media on paper 22" x 30"

Artist Statement
From its use as the official stamp on ecstasy tablets during the 80's house dance culture in the UK, to appearing in movies, graphic novels, album covers, plastic bags used in grocery stores, buttons, t-shirts and, most notoriously, as a censor on private parts of erotic and pornographic advertisement, "Mr. Smiley" inspired an idea I had for quite some time regarding the commercial and artistic use of this popular icon.

The series focuses on the smiley face as a fig leaf , which is meant to be funny: a big ball of goofiness, a parody of the current American society based on Victorian values. When we think about it, we exist today in a bubble of sexual illusion in which we have all the necessary ingredients, where the only thing missing is the icing on the cake or the ribbon wrapped around the present.
In the end, we all know what is behind the smiley face. Why hide it?


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Virtual Millennium Collection
1. Enemy Ship Detected, mix media on canvas, 36" x 26"
2. Good Morning Baghdad, 2007-2008, mixed media on paper, 75" x 18"
3. Laser Punishment, 2007-2008, mixed media on paper, 36" x 47-1/2"
4. Rise of the Machines, 2007-2008, mixed media on paper, 75" x 18"
5. The Labryinth Of Sistematic Confusion, mix media on canvas, 30" x 30"
6. Virtual Prison, mix media on canvas, 36" x 36"
7. X Wars, mix media on canvas, 36" x 36"

Artist Statement
The Virtual Millennium Collection; Exploring the Wonderful World of Virtual Reality and CGI.

Video games and video game imagery have been fascinating sources of inspiration for the last two years - mainly because of the video game industry and its source, the military.

Today, we are looking at a multi-million dollar monster that spins its web in virtually every TV set around the globe. Filled with high-tech weapons, gung-ho desert soldiers, and terrorist scenarios ripped from the headlines, today's ultra-realistic video games have moved to the forefront of the militarization of popular culture. No wonder the majority of parents recently polled are worried about the psychological and physiological effects of violent video games on their teenage children.

After all, video games are supposed to be taken simply as pure entertainment. Somewhere down the line, things changed and today we are asking ourselves questions: Are video games changing the way a new generation thinks about computers, media, culture, war, and peace?

This collection exists to provoke thoughts and possibly answers to some of these questions.

About Nikolay Milushev

Contact Information
1213 S. Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
e-mail: nrmilushev@gmail.com
www.nikolaymilushev.com
Please contact artist for purchases, commissions, etc.

Artist Bio
Born in Haskovo, Bulgaria, 11/22/77
Moved to The United States of America on 9/4/2001
Studied at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Professional Affiliations
2005-present
Print Center, Philadelphia, PA

2004-present
American Color Print Society, Philadelphia, PA

2002-present
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

Bibliography
2005
“New Talent Show”, Philadelphia Inquirer

Art

Kravetz, Deborah, " Old City Preview" Art Matters, Philadelphia, PA

Publications

2005
4th World Print Annual, Mini Print, Lessedra Gallery, Catalog

2004
3rd World Print Annual, Mini Print, Lessedra Gallery, Catalog

Memberships
2005 - present
Print Center, Philadelphia, PA

2004 - present
American Color Print Society, Philadelphia, PA

2002 - present
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

Selected Exhibitions

Solo

2006
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

2004
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

Galleria Tango, Rehoboth Beach, PA

2003
Gleaners Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Two-person

2008
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

2007
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

The Abbaye Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2005
The Abbaye Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Group

2010
Cerulean Arts, Philadelphia, PA

2009
Ice Box Project Space, Philadelphia , PA

Caroline Dunlop Millett Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2008
Ven & Vaida Gallery, Philadelphia , PA

Ice Box Project Space, Philadelphia, PA

DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

2007
Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

2005
Festival of Contemporary Painting, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Festival of Erotic Drawing, Finland

DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

4th World Print Annual, Mini Print, Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria

Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

58th National ACPS print Exhibition, Cheltenham Arts Center, Cheltenham, PA

Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

2004
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
Third Prize of the Board of Directors

3rd World Print Annual, Mini Print, Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria

Galleria Tango, Rohoboth Beach, DE

141st Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

2003
DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

B. Square Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Gleaners Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

DaVinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

2002
140th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

2001
Juried Student Show for OiI Paintings, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition

Juried Student Show for Works on Paper, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition

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