Nili Blumberg defines herself as a life artist, a term she adopted from the Buddhist Vipasana meditation. The term refers to the importance of honouring the core essence in any physical manifestation with detachment to any fixed form, choosing to manifest its most appropriate expression from moment to moment. Her work is a demonstration of "the art of living", constantly on the fine line between art and "real life". She prefers to exhibit her live-installations in shop windows and street corners, integrating them into the everyday reality of a city.
The Israeli artist born 1972 was first acquainted with the "art world" when, at the age of seventeen she began a ten-year successful "career" as a life model. Being present in classes of most art schools in the country had led her to open her own drawing studio in Tel Aviv September 1994, where anyone with some drawing experience could express themselves freely away from the restrictive, elitist dictatorship of the art establishment.
Blumberg had been a professional jazz singer since her early twenties, supplementing her income with a variety of jobs such as street photographer, private eye, TV-producer, to name a few. "I am internally grateful to all of my day jobs in retrospective they provided the perfect research for future artwork. In her first main project "Luftanza surprise - inspiring sheep" she had been touring the streets of Europe dancing and miming to the songs of icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Liza Minnelli dressed as a sheep named Luftanza. The name is a combination of two German words "Luft" and "tanz". Since February 1999, the work "post feminist icon" could be seen on a daily basis in: London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Malmö (Sweden). "I created a form which allowed me to claim back the right to play with my feminine sensual side as five year olds do, innocently without it being interpreted as a sexual invitation." In the later works "public dancer", she is dancing in a state of deep meditation using a technique called core dancing which is developed and taught by her.
Another work in the "inspiring sheep" project is "Road trip undercover", a collaboration with Swedish artist Karin Granstrand that was inspired by the work "Le Foie" (the Shadow) of French artist Sophie Cale. In this experimental venture, they take turns one is dressed as a sheep strolling the streets, while the other is following her as a private detective taking photos undercover. The photos are for exhibition but not for sale. The visitors may purchase a catalouge in the form of an A3-size wall-calendar, featuring photos from the project to exhibit in their private space. When asked what is the difference between her work which she defines as live-art and conceptual or performance art she replies: "Its like the difference between recorded and live music. It is based on the principal of synergy (1+1=3), it is not a show of a fixed rehearsed form, but a living breathing expression that reflects my integrity as an artist with the choices I make from moment to moment in real-time, as in the practice of improvised jazz."
The work "open, sit" is situated in cafes and bars, the artist is sitting at a table with a sign "open for intriguing conversation, sit down and talk to me". The conversations are documented and participants are able to buy the "open, sit"-kit containing the original sign, a pen and notebook. "Initially I created art forms for my personal transformation, later I discovered that the same forms are needed and can be used by others." Blumberg's work is a journey of exploration both private and public. She aims to touch the depth of our human common denominator, often using the element of surprise to bypass society's preconceptions. "For me art as a dogma is not enough, art should touch our whole being in some way, trigger a transformation no less." In her latest project "the back scratching shop" the art is literally touching you. As "Nurse Clara" she's giving her clients a back scratching session. In this project she builds on her experience in metaphysics as an alternative therapist, highlighting the irony regarding consumerism and conventional medicine, while demonstrating an alternative for current society's way of being.
Her future projects will take place in more conventional settings such a theatre and gallery spaces combining cinematography, dance and live-music into a vibrant experience that stimulates all six senses.
Exhibitions
"The back scratching shop" - Project
Berlin, Kastanenalle 31 (Uranus shop) permanent installation,
30th of September-14th of October 2006.
Exhibition Rundgång music shop, permanent installation.
Malmö, Sweden, 1-31 October 2005.
the Back scratching shop on tour:
Malmöfestivalen, Sweden, August 18-25 2006
Möllevångsfestivalen, Malmö, Sweden, July 27,28 2006
"Dans Akuten", grand opening of Mazetti culture house Malmö, Sweden, February 2006
London: Bar room bar, south bank (Tate Modern), April 2006
"Nurse Clara Live on stage" The Foundry Galery and Bar, Old street, London, 14-22 April
Dunkers culture house 5th aniversary, Helsingborg, Sweden, April 27 2006
Centrefug dance and performance festival Malmo Sweden, May 7th 2006
Berlin: Branderburg gate, Art academy, Hackescher Markt, Kastanien alle, June 25 - July 12 2006
Brogatan bar and restaurant Malmö, Sweden, 2005
Malmö festival, Sweden, August 2005
Möllevången Malmö, Sweden, September - October, 2006
Sheeptease
"City in motion" dance festival west harbor Malmö, Sweden, July 23 2006
Centrefug dance and performance festival Malmo, Sweden, May 5,6,7 2006
Dunkers culture house Helsingborg, Sweden, April 27 2006
The "Foundry" Gallery and Bar, London, April 21 2006
"Inspiring sheep" project.
Post feminist icon.
London, Embankment station, south bank, February - July 1999
Amsterdam, July 1999
Copenhagen, August, September 1999
Berlin, Kurfürstendamm, Wittenbergplatz, Hackescher Markt, October 1999 - April 2001
Exhibition opening "in the sign of the sheep", Delmenhost art museum, March 2000
Dornoch Catherdral Scotland, a performance dedicated to Madonna for her wedding.
Press conference including all the top international TV-press coverage, December 2000
Photo exhibition
UR-Gallery, Malmö, Sweden, January 2006
The project "Road trip undercover"
Malmö (Sweden) and Copenhagen, April - May 2004 and 2005
Berlin, June 2006
Public dancer.
Malmö and Lund (Sweden), November 2004 - 2005
Berlin, 2005
London, South bank, October 2002 - April 2003
Berlin, Kurfürstendamm, Hackescher Markt, May - June 2002
London, South bank, March - April 2002
The project "Open, sit"
Malmö (Sweden), August 2003
Practice makes perfect.
Lund (Sweden), August 2002
Amsterdam, July 1999
Publications
Printed press:
Sydsvenskan, Sweden, 28th of december 2006 B.Z. Berlin, 6th of October 2006 Woman magazine, Germany, August 2006 Tagesspiegel, Berlin Kultur, 16th of July 2006
Dygnet runt, Sweden, October 2005
Skurupsposten, Sweden, October 2005
Mahskara magazine, Sweden, February 2005
Choosen artist for 2003, Sydsvenskan, Sweden, January 2004
Front page photo (winner journalistic picture of the year 2003), interview, Sydsvenskan, Sweden, August 2003
The Archer, London, June 2002
The Mirror, London, December 2000
Allegra magazine, Germany, January 2000
Printz magazine, Berlin, Germany, November 1999
TV:
BBC World News, Nurse Clara in Berlin News item ( 1:40 min) June 27 2006
Kultursöndag, Swedish national television (SVT), Sweden, March 2004
Documentary, Tema Abendt, Arte TV-channel, Germany-France, August 2001
Morning show, Sat 1, Germany, February 2000
Good Evening with Guy Pines, a sheep at Madonna's wedding, Israel, Channel 3, December 2000
A sheep at Madonna's wedding, AP + other major TV-channels, news programs, December 2000