Nataliya Nikolska

Cairo, 2024 (2:27min) – Reconstruction of the Ordinary

This audio track captures the modern work-from-home experience, where the protagonist’s peaceful moments are interrupted by work demands. It is part of the photography and audio installation Reconstruction of the Ordinary.

The Sound of Attabah (2022) 3:26

During my five years stay in Cairo, and after moving apartments there for several times, I became particularly interested in the area of Cairo where you can basically buy anything you want. This is what this sound collage is about - about the sounds of Attabah.

The Calling (2021) 2:06min

The recording captures and expands the soundscape in Cairo during the call to prayer (Adhan) that takes place five times a day.
In total, four recordings overlap:
1. A call to prayer recorded from a high-rise building in Maadi, Cairo.
Call to prayer by three Egyptian reciters known for their special voices:
2. Muhammad Saddiq Al-Minshawi (1920 – 1969), an Egyptian Quran reciter and a Hafiz (a person who has memorized the Quran).
3. Sayyid Muhammad al-Naqshbandi (1920 – 1976), an Egyptian Quran reciter and a religious singer.
4. Sheikh Abdel Nasser Harak (1977*), an Egyptian Quran reciter and one of the prominent figures in this field. Currently, his voice is part of the “Unified Cairo Adhan.”

25 Habits To Add To Your Routine (2021) 4:54min

We hear the sequence of typical morning activities: a ticking clock, an alarm sound, a tired sigh. Then someone quickly taps something on their phone. This is followed by coffee and cereal preparation noises, and hurried eating. Next, someone goes jogging and does a workout, which is evident from the instructions for the sports exercises. After showering and packing a bag, the door is closed, and everything starts again, only this time faster, stricter, and initially more regular. After a few repetitions, this “morning routine” becomes a chaotic sequence of the aforementioned, but now unrelated, noises.
The recordings are mainly self-recorded, with the ticking of the clock and the sigh being a quote from the movie “Brief Encounters” (1967) by Kira Muratova.

Girl, you better do this! – Hearing Voices. (2019) 5:26min

This sound walk revolves around a woman who is either on her way to a job interview, an exam, or simply going to work. Meanwhile, she hears voices in as she reflects on her past. It is not always clear whether she is hearing the voices in her head or if real people are speaking to her.
In total, five main characters are recognisable:
– A person with a male voice who gives her advice and tries to calm her down.
– A female person who occasionally complains about pain and fatigue or expresses joy.
– Two female voices with the same function – the voice owners question every decision and make accusations.
– A ballet teacher who humiliates her as often as possible.
– A male character who sometimes imitates the other speakers and could be mistaken for people on the street.
The voices and sounds were recorded by me or the protagonists themselves. The piano in the background is an old recording from my ballet class.

Voices: Anna Byrne, Audrey Burns, Irina Dihanova, Jasmine Ivers, Joshua und Matt Paull.

And I thought it would be nicer if you said it to my face. (2019) 6:34min

We hear a running washing machine, the rustling of a bag, the preparation of food, and the sound of dishes being washed. The voices of two women can be heard. They are discussing topics that arise in a (functional) shared apartment, such as rent, the internet bill, and other matters. Gradually, they become more tense, and they start arguing. However, after a while, it becomes apparent that they are talking past each other, and the conversation doesn’t make sense – while one is talking about the dishes, the other is talking about gas bills. This tension accumulates until the main tenant informs her roommate that she and the others have long ago decided to kick her out of the apartment.

Voices: Anna Byrne, Audrey Burns.

Nightingale Transcription (2020) 4:13min / Audio + Sheet

In the recording titled “Nightingale Transcription,” you can hear a piano MIDI rendition of a nightingale’s song. The song of this nightingale, recorded in the Berlin Tiergarten, was translated into musical notes using an audio editing program (see pictures below). This work is to be understood as a collaboration with the nightingale, inspired by jazz musician David Rothenberg.

Sound Capsule (2018) London

I had the opportunity to join Sound Capsule, an experimental sound and video collective led by Andrew Chesher. This project brought together around twenty interdisciplinary artists, each contributing to an installation blending video, sound, and live performance. Our goal was to create an environment that combined individual work into a collective sensory experience.

The sound piece developed in four layers: Atmospheric sounds like rain or forest ambiances, Rhythmic elements crafted from guitar effect pedals and cosmic sounds, Melodic tones from a singing bowl, and Extra sounds—the final touches like ringing bells that would drift around the space. These sounds, all recorded or collected by group members, wove together to form a piece that shifted from calm rain and gentle bells to rhythmic beats and moving car sounds, before resolving in a quiet forest.

“Bad New Things” Exhibition (2018) London

Bad New Things, transformed a Camberwell living room into a dystopian “Garden of Eden.” Inspired by themes of consumerism and surveillance, the installation blended the idea of a consumer-driven society with references to Genesis, creating a space that served as both a symbolic garden and a critique of modern society.

The sounds complemented the space, from which my sound piece Jungle was creating the ambience and the piece Shopping, was tucked in the bathroom, exploring the absurdity of consumer culture through recordings from London shops.

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