Ex-Humus
How does the pursuit of natural resources like oil and coal transform the ground beneath our feet?
Artist Alexander Nikolsky lives in the coal-rich Kuzbass region of Western Siberia, where the ravages of mining are apparent. His work focuses on soil in this region, revealing a cause-and-effect relationship: as coal is mined in one area, sinkholes emerge elsewhere, glaciers melt, and the permafrost transforms. Using black and white film, these photographs blurred the lines between the past and present, portraying how mining continues to sculpt and reshape landscapes.
Medium: Photographic Series
Year: 2022
Process
Working on an augmented photo about the hyperobject of global coal mining.
Working on an augmented photo about the hyperobject of global warming.
Artist Alexander Nikolsky on an expedition to the melting Aktru glacier
Working on an augmented photo about the hyperobject of global warming.
Team
Alexander Nikolsky
Artist
Alexander Nikolsky is an artist, curator, researcher, and educator hailing from the coal-rich Kuzbass region in Western Siberia. Specialising in photography, video, and objects, his work is grounded in the philosophical realms of "dark ecology" and "flat ontologies." Nikolsky investigates the interplay between humans, objects, and nature, envisioning physical space, objects, and human practices as dynamic and equitable contributors to these interactions.
