Join us for a public presentation and discussion of artistic research by Viktoria Nikolova at Studio LOOS!
Sewing Grounds is an interdisciplinary project that explores the interplay between memory, displacement, and sound through the medium of a transformed sewing machine. This performance seeks to capture and translate the folklore music and stories of Scandinavia, Bulgaria, and England, reflecting the physical and emotional landscapes shaped by war and environmental disasters. By sewing a fabric map infused with field recordings and vocal elements, we evoke the lived experiences of displaced communities, connecting their pasts to the present.
The project emphasizes the intimate relationship between everyday objects and cultural rituals, merging domestic practices with sacred acts. Through the act of sewing, we map the sonic landscapes of migration, revealing how the pressures of history are stitched into the fabric of our identities. The incorporation of conductive materials allows for a dynamic auditory experience, amplifying the needle's impact and the fabric's response.
Viktoria Nikolova in colaboration with musicians Phoebe Kirrage and Julie Hasfjord, cellist Leah Plave, and technical support for instrument development, invite the audience into a shared space of reflection and resonance. This ongoing exploration aims to honor and transmit the memories of those who have experienced displacement, weaving together threads of history, culture, and sound.
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about the artists
Viktoria Nikolova
Viktoria Nikolova is a singer, performer, and curator from Sofia, Bulgaria, based in the Netherlands. She earned a Master’s in Classical Singing from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, specializing in Bulgarian folklore singing. Viktoria collaborates with various composers and ensembles, working with varied vocal styles and improvisation. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Cultural Sciences at Leiden University and serves as co-president of Kunstgang Commission gallery space.
Her 2019 performance "Metamorphosis of a Female Character" won the Themaprijs and Oorkaanprijs at Grachtenfestival. She has participated in festivals such as Opera Forward, Westben, and Plop, and was part of NKK NXT's 2019/20 internship. Viktoria's work explores artistic mediation, the intersection of memory, physical spaces and technology, and themes of identity and migration. In 2022 she founded with Phoebe Kirrage and Julie Hasfjord the vocal trio Bitter Blossoms. In 2024 she completed the One-Year Course at the Institute of Sonology.
Phoebe Kirrage
Phoebe Kirrage, originally from Newark, Nottinghamshire, began her musical journey at Lincoln Cathedral. She later studied at Wells Cathedral School under Nigel Perrin and earned her BMus(Hons) from Royal Holloway, University of London, where she held a choral scholarship. With this choir, she performed at iconic venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, and toured across Europe, North America, and Canada.
After graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in 2020, Phoebe embarked on a career as a soloist and ensemble singer, working with ensembles like Nederlands Kamerkoor, Holland Opera, and Nederlands Reisopera. She was also a participant in NKK NXT and performed at prestigious events such as the Koningsnacht Concert 2023. Phoebe recently completed a 90-performance tour with Wende Snijders’ production De Wildernis and now serves as the soprano and orchestra manager for The London Film Music Orchestra, continuing to challenge herself musically.
Julie Hasfjord
Julie Hasfjord is a versatile Norwegian singer, performing across classical, pop, folk, and electronic genres. She enjoys collaborating on new music and artwork and has appeared at festivals such as Opera Forward, SNAAR, Olavsfest, and K&M Fest. Julie was part of NKK NXT, which led to the creation of IMMIX Vocal Ensemble and their critically acclaimed performance, BLOOM. IMMIX has performed at several festivals, including Boulevard, and collaborated with the Netherlands Chamber Choir and Wende Snijders on her show De Wildernis.
In addition to her work with IMMIX, Julie sings with professional vocal ensembles, including The Netherlands Chamber Choir, Trondheim Vocal Ensemble and Nidaros Vokal. She also formed the vocal trio Bitter Blossoms, together with Viktoria Nikolova and Phoebe Kirrage, which recently released its first single and EP. Julie holds a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, and a bachelor degree from the University of Stavanger, Norway.
Leah Plave
Leah Plave extends herself beyond the traditional role of a cellist, performing not only classical repertoire but electronic, improvisational, non-western, and historical music. An outspoken advocate for inclusive programming and undiscovered voices, she often collaborates with living composers and enjoys interdisciplinary, cross-cultural projects. By the age of 24, she was a four-time immigrant having lived and toured extensively across North America, China, and Europe.
Based in The Netherlands since 2020, Leah is a member of many chamber ensembles, performing in spaces ranging from posh concert halls to sticky bars and candle lit living rooms. In collaboration with Tiziano Teodori, demand for their genre- bending cello and electronics repertoire is high at festivals and concert venues across Europe. In addition, Leah’s extensive experience as a chamber musician has included performances with ensembles such as London Film Orchestra, Ensemble Nova Sonantia, Z4 Piano Quartet, Lincoln Center Stage piano quintet, Vratsa Symphony Orchestra (BG), Theresia Orchestra (IT), Jeune Orchestre Rameau (FR), and Vermont Symphony Orchestra (USA).