About
My name is Nicky Amin. In my early years in 1970s London, I was a volunteer director at the International Arts Centre and studios in SE1 (the building has since been demolished). During that time, I also worked as an artist’s model for Craig Aitchison and Euan Uglow.
In the mid-1990s, I changed career to run public houses. I later attended Mountview Drama School and went on to work in the film and TV industry for 13 years, alongside caring for my parents.
I have been drawing and painting since childhood, although I have no formal art school training. I have attended fine art courses at City Lit, including Cultural Practice and Personal Projects. More recently, I have been participating in the Turps Banana correspondence course and off-site programme for the past four years.
For the last six years, my studio has been based at Bow Arts.
My process often begins with drawing, either on paper or directly onto canvas, and evolves through the use of varied materials, mediums, and elements such as coloured tissue paper.
My work is driven by a deep interest in human spirituality, a lust for life, and compassion for all living things, from animals to people. I explore themes of relationships and romantic love, and I continue to reflect on life through my practice. I am also gender fluid and regularly donate to food banks.
Biography
I am a painter of British-Indian descent, working across and within these two cultural experiences. My practice draws from both, exploring ideas around physical pleasure, sexual gratification, love, and relationships.
Libido, a term used in psychoanalytic theory, refers to the energy created by survival and sexual instincts. According to Sigmund Freud, it is part of the id and a driving force behind human behaviour. These ideas underpin much of my work, alongside themes of attraction, intimacy, and emotional connection.
I strive to give voice to subjects that are often considered taboo in society, with the aim of encouraging thought, emotion, and dialogue. My work frequently engages with ideas of infatuation, fantasy, and spirituality, including influences from Tantra. In Sanskrit, Tantra means “woven together,” reflecting the interconnection of desire, fear, enjoyment, procreation, and transcendence.
I often work intuitively and at a subconscious level, allowing the process to guide the outcome. My sources of inspiration include books, stories, films, cultural documentaries, life drawing, and the internet.