Nils Norman

{{Short description|British artist}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=May 2023}} {{BLP primary sources|date=May 2023}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}

==Life and career==

===Early life===

Norman was born in Sevenoaks, Kent, England in 1966 and lived there until 1979. In 1979 his parents moved to Bexhill, East Sussex. He attended Bexhill High School, Bexhill Sixth Form College and he did his Art Foundation at Hastings College of Arts and Technology.

===Public works=== Norman has completed major public art projects, including a pedestrian bridge, small playgrounds and a landscaping project for the City of Roskilde.<ref>[http://urban-matters.org/projectsbyindividuals/the-trekkroner-art-plan-project The Trekkroner Art Plan Project]urban-matters.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220201112/http://urban-matters.org/projectsbyindividuals/the-trekkroner-art-plan-project |date=20 December 2016 }}</ref>

In 2007, his work was on show at Tate Modern in the ''Global Cities'' exhibition, his presentation featured a series of posters displaying ecological and environmental information.<ref>[http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/globalcities/commissions.shtm Tate Modern, Global Cities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718192034/http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/globalcities/commissions.shtm |date=18 July 2009 }}</ref> In her 2006 survey ''Beyond Green'', Stephanie Smith highlighted Norman's interest in the apparent homogenization of urban spaces resultant from regeneration projects.<ref>Stephanie Smith, ''Beyond Green: toward a sustainable art'' (Chicago: Smart Museum, 2006), p. 1932</ref> It has been claimed that "Norman’s work has been compared to the urban projects of artists such as Claes Oldenburg, Robert Smithson, Gordon Matta-Clark, and Krzysztof Wodiczko.".<ref>Jennifer Allen, "Utopia Now: the art of Nils Norman," Artforum, January 2002.</ref> He has been a regular contributor to ''Mute'' magazine.<ref>Mute Magazine including the covers of issue [http://www.metamute.org/shop/magazine/mute-vol-2-no.-12-−-creative-city-ruins – The Creative City in Ruins] and [http://www.metamute.org/shop/magazine/mute-vol-2-no.-5-−-its-not-east-being-green-climate-change-issue – It's Not Easy Being Green]</ref>

Norman takes inspiration from the work of anarchist theorist Colin Ward, going as far as experimenting with Ward's 1973 book "Streetwork".<ref>[http://www.dismalgarden.com/research/schools-without-walls Street Work]</ref> Norman has also referenced the efforts of Cedric Price, especially those set forth in Price's "Non-Plan".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archinect.com/features/article/64621/nils-norman-undercover|title=Nils Norman: Undercover}}</ref>

In 2010 Norman developed two small-scale urban farming parks in the Hague, the Netherlands, that test and question the limitations and potentialities of permaculture as a possible citywide alternative design strategy for urban centres<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eetbaar-park.nl/index.php/eetbaar-park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620183835/http://www.eetbaar-park.nl/index.php/eetbaar-park |archive-date=20 June 2012 |title=Eetbaar Park - Eetbaar Park}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Demos | first=T. J. | title=Art after nature: The post-natural condition| website=Artforum International | date=1 April 2012 | url=https://www.artforum.com/print/201204/art-after-nature-the-post-natural-condition-30577 | access-date=9 July 2023}}</ref> They are an ongoing project and can be visited by the public. He has worked closely with the local community of Mereside to develop ideas for two new play areas. In 2015 the St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff, Wales commissioned Norman to develop a new playground for the museum that reflects its collection of Welsh historical artefacts. The playground will be completed in Spring 2017.

In collaboration with the artist Gareth Jones, Norman has been researching and designing a new public art strategy called City Club for the area around the Milton Keynes Gallery in Milton Keynes. Norman has also been collaborating with the Welsh artist Owen Griffiths on a public realm project in Trebanog, Wales. Working closely with children and parents locally to develop designs for their public spaces, commissioned by Artis Mundi. In 2017 he will complete a new library design for the Rietveld Art Academy Amsterdam.

==References==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norman, Nils}} Category:English artists Category:Living people Category:1966 births Category:Academic staff of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Category:Alumni of Saint Martin's School of Art Category:Artists from Kent Category:People educated at East Sussex College Category:People from Bexhill-on-Sea Category:People from Sevenoaks