We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicholas Milkovich. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicholas below.
Nicholas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
The first time it came to mind that I wanted to pursue art professionally was half way through getting my PhD in engineering. I had spent 2 years dedicated to studying engineering exclusively and it was, by far, the most miserable I had ever been. That’s not to say that I dislike engineering. The opposite is true. But I believe everyone needs to excel and more than one thing.
I was told I could do art as a hobby. But the word “hobby’ itself I found to be diminishing the things I wished to create. There was no other choice. I needed to be both.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I earned my PhD in soft tissue biomechanical engineering from Boston University. My research was in noninvasive means of assessing arterial health, namely using spectral analysis of the blood pressure waveform. This is important for studying cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.
I also have an MFA in Visual Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I make installation sculptures that utilize forms and motifs found in biology in an effort to ‘invade’ a space. My work uses synthetic materials not only for their unnatural bright coloring, but also add an unnatural element to organic design.
Now I am working in Brooklyn, NY in residence at Residency Unlimited (RU) until the end of November
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
Predatory. When the technology first gained popularity, I was just as interested as anyone else. It isn’t easy to make money as a visual artists and this seemed to be the answer. However, now it’s clear, with the vast majority of NFTs worth zero dollars, that this was merely a new creative way people to hide or display their wealth as they see fit.
It makes me sad that this tech preys on artists, who are already vulnerable and simply trying to make ends meet. I worry about AI technology further encroaching on the art space in general. Though, I do not think that this current era of art will be very friendly to artwork made by a computer beyond the novelty of it. We all desire to see the artist’s mark and their intension. In that way I would look at all emerging tech with art applications to be used as a tool or an means to an end.
In the hands of people who do not necessarily care about artistic expression and solely on the profit motive, we must be weary.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I want to be great. I don’t know what this means yet exactly, but I do know I want people to see me and understand me. I feel as though I have a lot to say without many available avenues to say it. But deep in my body I have always felt like there was more.
It makes me think of a professor I had in art school who commented on what success means as an artist. She had had a student who wanted to be the greatest artist in his small town, a very doable task. The conversation had an air of ‘managing expectations’ which I suppose is a worth while discussion to have. After all, our country does not value art in the way that other countries do. Opportunities are far and few. But all the while, I couldn’t help but think I personally go make the cut. I’m waiting for my day in the sun. I hope it comes soon
Contact Info:
- Website: www.milkovichsculpture.com
- Instagram: @nicholasmilkovich
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-milkovich-a409a4263/
Image Credits
Nicholas Milkovich