Materials almost never stand still: they move, change and act. Due to their own dynamics, they are active in one way or another. In my artistic work, I often deal with ephemeral materials such as sunlight, fog, clouds - and try to control them and give them a form. The inner vitality of these materials, which triggers constant movement and transformation, and the human need for form is the starting point for my artistic work. This approach raises questions such as: How can I deal with the properties of ephemeral substances in a sculptural context? How can temporary states of fog, clouds or ice be used in permanent installations? How can processes or material changes be conceived as fixed objects?
The works that emerge from these questions range from photography and video, objects and installations to performance and choreography. It is often a negotiation about the limits of human control over the free flow of energy.
Lyoudmila Milanova was born in 1979 in Varna, Bulgaria. She first studied Media Theory of Theater, Film and Television at the University of Cologne and then Fine Arts at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. She lives and works in Cologne, Germany.
Some of her recent exhibitions are:
2025 Zonta Cologne Art Award, solo show, Fuhrwerkswaage, Cologne / 2024 The Romantic Eye, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm / 2023 Casper David Friedrich - Kunst für eine neue Zeit, Hamburger Kunsthalle / 2023 Blueprint of the Sky, solo show, Kunst-Station Sankt Peter, Cologne / 2022 Up In The Air, Kunstmuseum Bonn
Hosted by the Interface Design chair at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar as part of the project module: Talk to me – Connected Things and Objects
This project explores the design of a functional virtual reality prototype that supports German language learning through contextual, immersive experiences. By integrating interactive scenarios into a VR environment, the prototype aims to enhance vocabulary retention, situational understanding, and learner motivation, offering a novel approach to language acquisition through embodied practice.
My Strength is Your Inertia