After meeting in 2015 in Victoria, BC, artists Mikhail Miller and Rachel Ziriada began collaborating on large-scale installations under the moniker, and fictional word, NASARIMBA. Since the duo relocated to Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 land in 2016, they have developed a diverse practice that involves, painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation, and mural painting. In addition to completing three residences and facilitating workshops, NASARIMBA’s work has appeared in multiple solo and group exhibitions and mural festivals throughout Canada.

“Our work is primarily abstract, however, we’re always taking inspiration from architecture, and the natural world.”

Responding to PARK’s call for artists earlier last month, NASARIMBA was selected to create interactive seating for #YYCBlockParty at Destination Deerfoot City and an expansive ground mural titled STAY BRIGHT, presented by Brightside, at the Rise on St. Patrick’s Island in East Village, Calgary.

“We often work on paintings that have a dimensional aspect to them so the box-benches at #YYCBlockParty were a good fit for us. We designed the boxes with the brand guidelines outlined by the mall while maintaining our signature gradients, use of pattern and clean, crisp lines.”

How do you hope people visiting #YYCBlockParty feel when they see your work?

We hope people feel uplifted when they see the benches, and other pieces we have worked on. We hope that people realize we create this work for them. We love making work that exists in public spaces as it democratizes art for the people. It is the public who complete each piece with their interpretations and life experiences.

Photo by Courtney Verbeek, Destination Deerfoot City

NASARIMBA also created a large-scale mural and accompanying sculpture at St. Patrick’s Island—what was that process like?

The #Staybright project offered us the opportunity to create a large-scale mural painted on grass that the public can interact with through a series of social distancing circles impeded in the design. These interwoven, colourful shapes form the composition just as interconnected friends and family form relationships with one another. The sculpture mirrors this energy with animation and harmony, encouraging connection, and stimulating imagination.

The public park location makes an ideal setting for our work to inhabit, engaging with people from all walks of life in a natural landscape. We hope that participants will feel inspired by the larger than life gestures of form and colour and will take a moment of relaxation and contemplation in their own spot of grass. Consideration of the mural’s environmental impact was of great concern as we sourced water-based marking paint for the mural application.

We have noticed since the installation launched that there are some faint tire marks of people riding bikes through the grass, leaving streaks through the painting. We see these marks as a visual representation of the connections and relationships between humans everywhere.

In your opinion, what role do artists and public art play in society?

Artists have an important role to play in society—challenging and upturning the ways in which life is perceived, bringing light to universal and shared truths. Bringing art into the public realm is an important step in our collective movement towards a more humane, just, and empowering society.

What is the most challenging aspect of creating a new body of work, and do you have a dream project that you’d to pursue one day?

The most challenging aspect of creating a new body of work would be organizing the time required to fully focus our attention on creative production. The quarantine period that society is going through has allowed us to have more time and focus on our art practice.

If time and funding wasn’t a concern, a dream project of ours would be painting a large-scale mural that wraps around all sides of a grain elevator somewhere in Alberta.