The Radar: Nana Wolke, Dani Marcel and Sonia Jia

Nana Wolke

Nana Wolke explores the nature of perception, focusing her attention on modes of apprehension of space and time. Her series of works usually begins on film-like sets, where she records the unfolding of staged situations and improvised actions occurring in spaces spanning across social hierarchy. Wolke then assembles and edits both original and found footage to create distinctly monochromatic visual atmospheres and rhythms that she then translates into painting and sound installations.

Age: 29

Location: NYC baby

Last dream you had: Some vague pre-show circus, including crowdfunding for my own scam vet’s invoice

Favourite exhibition: Most recently Nikita Gale’s ‘Nosebleeds’ at Petzel Gallery

Favourite object you own: The first artwork I ever bought, Slovenian artist Andrej Pavlič’s small Flemish-style painting of a glass of water with a fish’s head sinking to its bottom

Favourite art-world Instagram account: @whos___who, it’s hilarious but also a profound exploration of influences in art

Favourite movie: The ending of The Holy Mountain (1973) blew my head off in high school

Favourite artwork: Idk, all the greats really. For example these two gems 100 years apart: Christ’s Entry Into Brussels in 1889 (1888) by James Ensor and Michael Jackson and Bubbles (1988) by Jeff Koons

Loves: Surprises

Hates: “Free time”

End-of-year goals: Throwing a rager for everyone who’s been a force of love and inspiration in my life for the past 30 years

Dani Marcel

London-based conceptual artist Dani Marcel investigates autobiographical themes through the creation of objects, performances and proposals that often push everyday acts to their limits. He also works across sculpture and painting and has previously exhibited under different pseudonyms in London and internationally, including the Shop / Sadie Coles HQ, London, Serving the People, NYC, South London Gallery, London, Fold Gallery, London, Kupfer, London, Grove London and White Columns, NYC.

Age: 31

Location: London, UK

Last dream you had: In the run-up to my friend Ed Fornieles’ show I dreamed about the exhibition, complete with details of artworks and layout, as a kind of vision/premonition. It’s now on view at Carlos Ishikawa, go see

Favourite exhibition: The 400th exhibition I’ve seen was Barbara Kruger at Sprüth Magers. I threw an afterparty with DJs and tons of people came to celebrate this, frankly quite scary, number with me. So I liked that one

Favourite object you own: I’m against owning things. One of my biggest problems is owning the objects I’ve produced

Favourite art-world Instagram account: More on the music side but @walkonthewildsidenyc is a good one. Also @vasilikaliman

Favourite movie: Pasolini’s St. Francis movie is great. I love the credits and the opening scene.

Favourite artwork: I’m constantly amazed by the work of SoiL Thornton and Ryan Gander

Loves: Most things

Hates: Don’t hate

End-of-year goals: Escape London

Sonia Jia

Sonia Jia documents reflections on intimate relationships, traumas and the experiences and objects brought about by years of living in various regions. Her work centres around the power of mourning and sorrow, and reflects an underlying belief that intimate relationships are inherently intertwined with conflict.

Age: 23

Location: Hangzhou, China

Last dream you had: Flying with my cat

Favourite exhibition: Anselm Kiefer’s ‘Finnegans Wake’

Favourite Instagram account: @softcatmemes

Favourite movie: Suzhou River by Ye Lou

Favourite artwork: Fragmentos by Doris Salcedo

Loves: Spicy food, snow

Hates: Rainy days

End-of-year goals: To travel to Xinjiang