Nicolas is an artistic director, designer and artist born in 1978. He's currently base in Bordeaux, France.
With over 30 years of experience in the skateboarding, a discipline he was sponsored for in the 90's, Nicolas continues to skate diligently every week. His first job, after graduating with a Master's degree in Industrial Design, was to co-create the iconic "Chill Skate Magazine" in the early 2000s.
After the Chill adventure, Nicolas worked as a designer and art director within the ill-Studio collective (2005-2014). He realized a wide range of projects in various fields from fashion to art to music. He works for international brands but also for more niche labels.
In 2015, Nicolas founded his own design studio, Atelier Malinowsky. He works for clients such as Colette, Highsnobiety, Ed Banger Records, Nike SB, Reebook, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Chanel or Lacoste. Alongside his design work, Nicolas still continues to work on more personal artistic projects. His work has been exhibited in Paris and throughout France, as well as in Moscow, London and Los Angeles. Nicolas is also a DJ and music producer. In the 2000s, he composed many soundtracks for skateboard videos (for 411, Cliché or Puzzle). He has also performed and continues to perform in many skateboarding events. He recently started his own music label, 608 ZZ, and produces electronic music.
"KOWABUNGA", a memory from the 80s.
The title of the exhibition "KOWABUNGA" refers to one of Nicolas' favorite childhood memories: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. "KOWABUNGA" is also a very popular word in the 80's BMX culture Nicolas experienced as a child. Before skateboarding took over his life, Nicolas spent his entire childhood in the 80's on a bike. He participated in his first BMX competition at the age of 4 and performed his first tricks on a freestyle BMX at the age of 6. He was also the youngest member of the Crazy Duck team based in Paris. He then became a member of the French Trial Bike team and competed twice in the world championships (at 12 and 13 years old).
"KOWABUNGA" represents Nicolas' modern interpretation of that late 80's "fun culture" that infused skateboarding, surfing, BMX, and even tennis with Andre Agassi. Crazy patterns, ethnic influences, bold geometric graphics, anything was possible! This gave rise to a golden age of "fun-wear".
Nicolas is also heavily influenced by the Italian post-modern movement of the early 1980s in art and design, as well as artists such as Carl Andre, Sold Lewit, Daniel Buren and Guy de Cointet, to name a few.
His work for this exhibition blends references from these different eras and influences, all of which share playful colors and geometric compositions.
Two unique surfboards were produced for the exhibition, made with care and passion by Vincent.
