b. 1975, Mauritius. Currently lives in Mauritius.
Nirveda Alleck is a multi-disciplinary artist who explores the psychology of human social life in public and personal spaces. In her paintings, she works with a combination of staged and studied portraiture, adding elements of fiction, or removing backdrops from otherwise hyperreal representations. In her three dimensional work, which studies a variety of objects and scenes, the centrality of human presence is always implied as a central point of interest.
Education
2012: Cultural Leadership Training, African Arts Institute, South African Centre for the Netherlands and Flanders, Cape Town.
2001: Master of Fine Art (MFA), Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow.
1997: Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts (Hons.), First Class, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2001: Master of Fine Art (MFA), Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow.
1997: Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts (Hons.), First Class, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
Solo Exhibitions (Mauritius)
2023: No Story is an Island, Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis.
2020: De quel noirceur sont tes pensées, Institut Français de Maurice, Mauritius
2018: Divine Weapons, Imaaya Art Gallery, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2013: Select Works, Angsana Balaclava, Balaclava.
2012: Art Party, Henessy Park Hotel, Quatre Bornes.
2007: Présent Immobile, La Citadelle, Port Louis.
1998: Zilch And All, Max Boullé Gallery, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill.
2004: Duad, Max Boullé Gallery, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill.
2020: De quel noirceur sont tes pensées, Institut Français de Maurice, Mauritius
2018: Divine Weapons, Imaaya Art Gallery, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2013: Select Works, Angsana Balaclava, Balaclava.
2012: Art Party, Henessy Park Hotel, Quatre Bornes.
2007: Présent Immobile, La Citadelle, Port Louis.
1998: Zilch And All, Max Boullé Gallery, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill.
2004: Duad, Max Boullé Gallery, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill.
Solo Exhibitions (International)
2019: Car, vois-tu, tu as droit d’être obscur, Cité internationale des arts Paris, Paris.
Group Exhibitions (Mauritius)
2016: Edge Effects, La Citadelle, Port Louis.
2016: Porlwi by Light, Company Garden, Port Louis.
2016: Metaform, Roger's House, Mauritius.
2015: Charles Beaudelaire exhibition, Helen de Senneville Gallery, Mauritius
2015: Parl’eau- Collaborative work with Katia Bourdarel during La Peau des Choses
exhibition, IFM, Mauritius
2015: Amnesia: 180th anniversary commemorating the abolition of slavery, Rabindranath
Tagore Institute, Mauritius
2014: Glories of Bihar, Rabindranath Tagore Institute, Mauritius
2014: Femlink- Feminin Plurielles, International Video Art exhibition, IFM, Mauritius
2013: La Belle Peinture II, Phoenix le Halles, Port Louis.
2012: We Have Lost The Way, Port Louis.
2010: The Landing of the Dodos, public, Quatre Bornes.
2010: 200 Years after the Battle of Grand Port, Commemorative Exhibition, Mauritius.
2009: Indian Diaspora International Exhibition, Mauritius.
2008: INTERLACE - Drawing Connections between SA, Finland and Mauritius, IMAAYA Gallery, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2008: Imaaya Group Exhibition, Imaaya Gallery, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2008: Omada, Live video performance.
2007: Liberté D’expression, Right Now! Exhibition, IBL Gallery, Port Louis.
2007: International Women’s Exhibition, Mahatma Ghandi Institute Gallery, Moka.
2005: 2nd Triennale of Contemporary Art, Mauritius.
2005: Salon de Mai, Mahatma Ghandi Institute Gallery, Moka.
2016: Porlwi by Light, Company Garden, Port Louis.
2016: Metaform, Roger's House, Mauritius.
2015: Charles Beaudelaire exhibition, Helen de Senneville Gallery, Mauritius
2015: Parl’eau- Collaborative work with Katia Bourdarel during La Peau des Choses
exhibition, IFM, Mauritius
2015: Amnesia: 180th anniversary commemorating the abolition of slavery, Rabindranath
Tagore Institute, Mauritius
2014: Glories of Bihar, Rabindranath Tagore Institute, Mauritius
2014: Femlink- Feminin Plurielles, International Video Art exhibition, IFM, Mauritius
2013: La Belle Peinture II, Phoenix le Halles, Port Louis.
2012: We Have Lost The Way, Port Louis.
2010: The Landing of the Dodos, public, Quatre Bornes.
2010: 200 Years after the Battle of Grand Port, Commemorative Exhibition, Mauritius.
2009: Indian Diaspora International Exhibition, Mauritius.
2008: INTERLACE - Drawing Connections between SA, Finland and Mauritius, IMAAYA Gallery, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2008: Imaaya Group Exhibition, Imaaya Gallery, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2008: Omada, Live video performance.
2007: Liberté D’expression, Right Now! Exhibition, IBL Gallery, Port Louis.
2007: International Women’s Exhibition, Mahatma Ghandi Institute Gallery, Moka.
2005: 2nd Triennale of Contemporary Art, Mauritius.
2005: Salon de Mai, Mahatma Ghandi Institute Gallery, Moka.
Group Exhibitions (International)
2024: The Sun Never Sets II: More Than One Memory. Unit, London.
2019: Streams of Consciousness, Rencontres de Bamako - Biennale Africaine de la photographie, National Museum of Mali, Bamako.
2017: Ethics in a World of Strangers: Nirveda Alleck and Eric van Hove, Richard Taittinger Gallery, New York City.
2017: Tous, des sang-meles, Musée d´art contemporain du Val-de-Marne MAC/Val, Paris.
2016: Dakar-Martigny: Hommage À La Biennale D’art Contemporain, Le Manoir, Matrigny.
2016: Le Tour de Origines, Chapelle Saint Thomas des Indiens, Réunion Island.
2016: Kwe I Espas, Le Hangart, Réunion Island.
2016: We the People, Casablanca International Biennale, Cassablanca.
2014: Des hommes, des mondes, College des Bernardins, Paris.
2014: Where are we now?, Marrakech Biennale Parallel projects, Marrakech.
2014: African Artists: Still Fighting Ignorance & Intellectual Perfidy (SFIP), Ben Uri Gallery & Museum, St. John's Wood, London.
2014: Africa Utopia, Digital Africa: The Future is now, Southbank Centre, London.
2014: Analogue Eye: Video art from Africa, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
2014: !Kauru, Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria.
2014: Des hommes, des mondes, College des Bernardins, Paris, France
2013: Origins of a new world tour, Made in India, Reunion Island.
2013: Still Fighting Ignorance and Intellectual Perfidy, Ben Uri Gallery, London; Malmö Konsthall, Malmö.
2013: Art Warning the World, Klaus Guingand, online.
2012: One Colour Screening, La Cinematheque Quebequoise, Quebec.
2012: Dak'art African Contemporary Art Biennale, La Gare, Dakar.
2011: One Colour, Pfeister Gallery, Bornholm.
2011: To Africanize is to Civilize, Paris Photo OFF, Paris.
2011: Festival Africain d'Images Virtuelles Artistiques (FAIVA) Residency Exhibition, Center Soleil d'Afrique, Bamako.
2011: Migrant-C, FNB Joburg Art Fair, Johannesburg.
2011: One Minutes Africa Awards, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo.
2011: FOCUS11: Contemporary Art Africa, Art Basel, Basel.
2011: Open Studio, Omi International Art Centre, New York.
2011: One Minutes Video Africa, Bamako.
2010: African Renaissance, World Festival of Black Arts International, Dakar.
2010: La Foire des Mascareignes, Le Port, Reunion Island.
2010: Dak'art African Contemporary Art Biennale, La Gare, Dakar.
2009: The Réunion Island Biennale of Art, Design, Création, Numérique et Immatérielle, Reunion Island.
2009: Vieme Jeux de la Francophonie, Beirut.
2009: African Renaissance: Africa is Back, Pan-African Art Festival, multiple venues, Algiers.
2008: 10th year Anniversary Raffle, Greatmore Studios, Cape Town.
2008: House Games Triennale, Anna Ruth and Juho Jäppinen's apartment, Jyväskylä.
2008: Tulipamwe International Artists Exhibition, Goethe-Institut Namibia, Windhoek.
2007: International Urban Workshop Exhibition, Thupelo, Cape Town.
2006 - 2007: Femlink International Video Collage, shown at venues worldwide, including Cinematic Lab, Bandung; Foundation of Contemporary Art, Montevideo; Cyber Arts Night Vision Festival, Massachusetts; Espace Dialogos, Cachan; Centre Videofemmes, Quebec and many more.
2006: Resident Artists Exhibition, Bag Factory Artists studios, Johannesburg.
2005: The 2nd East Africa Art Biennale (EASTAB), Dar es Salaam.
2005: International Painters Exhibition, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishek Gallery, Bangalore.
2005: Tomorrow Land, 11th Triennale India, New Delhi.
2003: Pond, Cochrane Street, Glasgow.
2001: Diplomatic Immunity, Times Square Gallery, New York City.
1999: Glasgow Art Fair, St Georges Square, Glasgow.
1999: Interim Show, Glasgow School Of Art, Glasgow.
1998: 6th Seychelles Biennial Of Contemporary Art, National Gallery, Victoria.
1997: Graduate Exhibition, Michaelis School of Fine Art, Cape Town.
1997: Preface, Centre For African Studies Gallery, Cape Town; Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery, Cape Town.
2019: Streams of Consciousness, Rencontres de Bamako - Biennale Africaine de la photographie, National Museum of Mali, Bamako.
2017: Ethics in a World of Strangers: Nirveda Alleck and Eric van Hove, Richard Taittinger Gallery, New York City.
2017: Tous, des sang-meles, Musée d´art contemporain du Val-de-Marne MAC/Val, Paris.
2016: Dakar-Martigny: Hommage À La Biennale D’art Contemporain, Le Manoir, Matrigny.
2016: Le Tour de Origines, Chapelle Saint Thomas des Indiens, Réunion Island.
2016: Kwe I Espas, Le Hangart, Réunion Island.
2016: We the People, Casablanca International Biennale, Cassablanca.
2014: Des hommes, des mondes, College des Bernardins, Paris.
2014: Where are we now?, Marrakech Biennale Parallel projects, Marrakech.
2014: African Artists: Still Fighting Ignorance & Intellectual Perfidy (SFIP), Ben Uri Gallery & Museum, St. John's Wood, London.
2014: Africa Utopia, Digital Africa: The Future is now, Southbank Centre, London.
2014: Analogue Eye: Video art from Africa, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
2014: !Kauru, Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria.
2014: Des hommes, des mondes, College des Bernardins, Paris, France
2013: Origins of a new world tour, Made in India, Reunion Island.
2013: Still Fighting Ignorance and Intellectual Perfidy, Ben Uri Gallery, London; Malmö Konsthall, Malmö.
2013: Art Warning the World, Klaus Guingand, online.
2012: One Colour Screening, La Cinematheque Quebequoise, Quebec.
2012: Dak'art African Contemporary Art Biennale, La Gare, Dakar.
2011: One Colour, Pfeister Gallery, Bornholm.
2011: To Africanize is to Civilize, Paris Photo OFF, Paris.
2011: Festival Africain d'Images Virtuelles Artistiques (FAIVA) Residency Exhibition, Center Soleil d'Afrique, Bamako.
2011: Migrant-C, FNB Joburg Art Fair, Johannesburg.
2011: One Minutes Africa Awards, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo.
2011: FOCUS11: Contemporary Art Africa, Art Basel, Basel.
2011: Open Studio, Omi International Art Centre, New York.
2011: One Minutes Video Africa, Bamako.
2010: African Renaissance, World Festival of Black Arts International, Dakar.
2010: La Foire des Mascareignes, Le Port, Reunion Island.
2010: Dak'art African Contemporary Art Biennale, La Gare, Dakar.
2009: The Réunion Island Biennale of Art, Design, Création, Numérique et Immatérielle, Reunion Island.
2009: Vieme Jeux de la Francophonie, Beirut.
2009: African Renaissance: Africa is Back, Pan-African Art Festival, multiple venues, Algiers.
2008: 10th year Anniversary Raffle, Greatmore Studios, Cape Town.
2008: House Games Triennale, Anna Ruth and Juho Jäppinen's apartment, Jyväskylä.
2008: Tulipamwe International Artists Exhibition, Goethe-Institut Namibia, Windhoek.
2007: International Urban Workshop Exhibition, Thupelo, Cape Town.
2006 - 2007: Femlink International Video Collage, shown at venues worldwide, including Cinematic Lab, Bandung; Foundation of Contemporary Art, Montevideo; Cyber Arts Night Vision Festival, Massachusetts; Espace Dialogos, Cachan; Centre Videofemmes, Quebec and many more.
2006: Resident Artists Exhibition, Bag Factory Artists studios, Johannesburg.
2005: The 2nd East Africa Art Biennale (EASTAB), Dar es Salaam.
2005: International Painters Exhibition, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishek Gallery, Bangalore.
2005: Tomorrow Land, 11th Triennale India, New Delhi.
2003: Pond, Cochrane Street, Glasgow.
2001: Diplomatic Immunity, Times Square Gallery, New York City.
1999: Glasgow Art Fair, St Georges Square, Glasgow.
1999: Interim Show, Glasgow School Of Art, Glasgow.
1998: 6th Seychelles Biennial Of Contemporary Art, National Gallery, Victoria.
1997: Graduate Exhibition, Michaelis School of Fine Art, Cape Town.
1997: Preface, Centre For African Studies Gallery, Cape Town; Association for Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery, Cape Town.
Video Works
2011: They spoke different tongues, 2 channel, 15:00.
2011: L’Offrande, 01:00, (nominated for One Minutes Africa Prize).
2011: one color, 03:00.
2011: The return, 02:00, (commissioned by One Minutes Africa).
2009: Ephemeral, 08:00.
2008: Omada, video performance with music and dance, 08:00.
2007: Tragedy of a swing and a chair, 02:00.
2007: Histories, documentary, (commissioned by Right Now! Association, Mauritius).
2006: Power, 20:00.
2006: Perfect Match, video performance.
2005: Ravinal Man, 17:00.
2004: Counter Currents, synchronised video work.
2001: Gist, video with installation.
Collections and Commissions
Porlwi by Light Festival of Contemporary Culture, Mauritus.
Ministry of Arts and Culture, Mauritius.
Azuri Radisson Blue, Mauritius.
Okombahe Community, Namibia.
Lalit Kala Akademi, India.
Reinsurance Consultants, Mauritius & South Africa.
Holcim Cements, Mauritius.
Shields Mural Project, Peugeot Centre, Scotland.
Church House, Bridgeton, Scotland.
UCATT (Workers Union) March Banner, Scotland.
Isle of Arran Distillers, Scotland.
J.D.Weatherspoons Ltd, Glasgow and Edinburgh Branches, Scotland.
Hannibal (historic documentary), Channel 5, Wark Clements Productions, Scotland.
Citigate, Scotland.
McCabe Contemporary Art (Cecily Getty), South Africa.
Independent Outdoor Media, South Africa.
Ministry of Arts and Culture, Mauritius.
Azuri Radisson Blue, Mauritius.
Okombahe Community, Namibia.
Lalit Kala Akademi, India.
Reinsurance Consultants, Mauritius & South Africa.
Holcim Cements, Mauritius.
Shields Mural Project, Peugeot Centre, Scotland.
Church House, Bridgeton, Scotland.
UCATT (Workers Union) March Banner, Scotland.
Isle of Arran Distillers, Scotland.
J.D.Weatherspoons Ltd, Glasgow and Edinburgh Branches, Scotland.
Hannibal (historic documentary), Channel 5, Wark Clements Productions, Scotland.
Citigate, Scotland.
McCabe Contemporary Art (Cecily Getty), South Africa.
Independent Outdoor Media, South Africa.
Catalogues
2021: African Artists: From 1882 to Now. Phaidon: London
2012: Dak’Art 2012: 10e`me Biennale de l’art africain contemporain, Secretariat general de la biennale des arts, Dakar.
2011: FNB Joburg Art Fair 2011, Cobi Laubuscagne (ed), ArtLogic: Johannesburg.
2011: Migrant C, Nirveda Alleck (curator), Johannesburg.
2011: Fanzines, Focus Contemporary African Art, Basel.
2010: Dak’art 2010: 9ème Biennale De L'art Africain Contemporain, Secrétariat général de la biennale des arts, Dakar.
2009: Biennale Arts Actuels, Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts: Reunion Island.
2009: 2009 Francophonie Games, Beirut.
2009: African Renaissance: Africa is Back, 2nd Pan African Festival, Zéhira Yahi (Arts and Culture Department), Algiers.
2009: Indian Diaspora International, Mahatma Ghandi Institut, University of Mauritus, Moka.
2007: International Urban Workshop Exhibition, Thupelo, Cape Town.
2007: Présent Immobile, La Citadelle, Port Louis.
2007: Art in Mauritius, Hans Ramduth (author), MGI Publication, Moka.
2007: 1st Salon d’Ete, National Art Gallery, Port Louis.
2006: Bag Factory Residents Exhibition, Bag Factory Artist Studios, Johannesburg.
2005: Tomorrow Land, 11th Triennale India, New Delhi.
2005: The 2nd East Africa Art Biennale (EASTAB), Yves Goscinny (author), La Petite Gallerie, Dar es Salaam.
2001: Diplomatic Immunity, UKwithNY Festival, New York City.
1998: 24 Artworks by selected South African Artists, McCabe Gallery Publication, Cape Town.
Awards and Prizes
2012: Emma Award for Arts and Culture, Bank One, Mauritius.
2011: FNB Art Prize Finalist, FNB Joburg Art Fair, Johannesburg.
2011: 'One Minutes Africa' Nominee, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo.
2011: Francis J Greenburger Fellowship, Omi International Arts Centre, Ghent.
2011: Recipient, International Artist Scheme Grant, Ministry of Arts and Culture, Mauritius.
2010: Soleil d’Afrique Prize, Dak'art African Contemporary Art Biennale, Dakar.
2008: HIVOS Sponsorship, Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop and Exhibition, National Art Gallery of Namibia, Windhoek.
2004: Selected for ‘1er Fond D’Aide au Développement du Film’, Mauritius Film Development Corporation, Mauritius.
1999: Postgraduate Scholarship, Glasgow School of Fine Art, Glasgow.
1998: Most Promising Young Artist Award, 6th Seychelles Biennial of Contemporary Art, National Gallery, Victoria.
1997: Dean’s Merit List, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
1994: Edward Louis Ladan Bursary used for undergraduate studies in fine art, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
Residencies and Workshops
2011: Soleil d’Afrique Residency, Centre Soleil d'Afrique, Bamako.
2011: Omi International Artists Residency, Art Omi, Ghent.
2011: One Minutes Africa workshop, Centre Soleil d'Afrique, Bamako.
2009: Biennale Arts Actuels Residency, Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Reunion Island.
2009: Vieme Francophonie Games Painting Workshop, Beirut.
2009: Indian Diaspora International Workshop, Mahatma Ghandi Institut, Moka.
2008: Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop, Goethe Institut Namibia,Windhoek.
2007: Artist in Residence, Greatmore Studios, Cape Town.
2007: Thupelo International Workshop, Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town.
2006: Artist in Residence, Bag Factor Artist Studios, Johannesburg.
2005: International Painters Camp, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishek, Bangalore.
2004: Scriptwriting workshop with Mama Keita, Mauritus Film Development Corporation, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2001 - 2002: Artist in Residence, St Patrick’s Primary School, Glasgow.
2011: Omi International Artists Residency, Art Omi, Ghent.
2011: One Minutes Africa workshop, Centre Soleil d'Afrique, Bamako.
2009: Biennale Arts Actuels Residency, Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Reunion Island.
2009: Vieme Francophonie Games Painting Workshop, Beirut.
2009: Indian Diaspora International Workshop, Mahatma Ghandi Institut, Moka.
2008: Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop, Goethe Institut Namibia,Windhoek.
2007: Artist in Residence, Greatmore Studios, Cape Town.
2007: Thupelo International Workshop, Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town.
2006: Artist in Residence, Bag Factor Artist Studios, Johannesburg.
2005: International Painters Camp, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishek, Bangalore.
2004: Scriptwriting workshop with Mama Keita, Mauritus Film Development Corporation, Vacoas-Phoenix.
2001 - 2002: Artist in Residence, St Patrick’s Primary School, Glasgow.
Other Projects
Chair, Arterial Network, Mauritius Chapter, Port Louis.
Co-ordinator, The Landing of The Dodos public art project, Quatre Bornes.
Project Leader, Migrant-C: Mauritius Indian Ocean Artists Collective, Mauritus.
Co-ordinator, The Landing of The Dodos public art project, Quatre Bornes.
Project Leader, Migrant-C: Mauritius Indian Ocean Artists Collective, Mauritus.
Professional Experience
2013: Visiting Lecturer, Experimental Video, Visual Art and Digital Arts, University of Mauritius, Moka.
2012: One Day Create, Outdoor Creative Art Classes, Casela Nature Parks, Black River.
2012: Visiting Lecturer, Critical Issues on Contemporary Art, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, University of Mauritius, Moka.
2011: Arts Consultant, Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, Port Louis District.
2008 - 2009: Lecturer, Mauritius Institute of Education, Moka.
2006: Visiting Lecturer, Painitng, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, University of Mauritius, Moka.
2004 - 2008: Education Officer, Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Vacoas-Phoenix.
1998-1999: Community Arts Teacher, Coatbrigde Community Centre, Glasgow.
2012: One Day Create, Outdoor Creative Art Classes, Casela Nature Parks, Black River.
2012: Visiting Lecturer, Critical Issues on Contemporary Art, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, University of Mauritius, Moka.
2011: Arts Consultant, Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, Port Louis District.
2008 - 2009: Lecturer, Mauritius Institute of Education, Moka.
2006: Visiting Lecturer, Painitng, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, University of Mauritius, Moka.
2004 - 2008: Education Officer, Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Vacoas-Phoenix.
1998-1999: Community Arts Teacher, Coatbrigde Community Centre, Glasgow.
