2025, Pietra Dura: Inlay of semi-precious stones, 24 cm x 15 cm x 1 cm.

In 2020, a fuel storage tank in Norilsk (northern Siberia) collapsed, releasing over 21,000 tons of diesel into nearby rivers. The spill contaminated the Ambarnaya and Daldykan rivers, turning the water deep red and spreading pollution through connected waterways.

The collapse was partly attributed to the thawing of permafrost, which destabilized the ground supporting the tank. Built on terrain long assumed to be permanently frozen, the infrastructure failed as rising temperatures exposed the fragility of industrial systems in the Arctic. The diesel polluted groundwater and surface water, threatening local ecosystems and raising concerns about contamination reaching the Arctic Ocean.

Based on this event, Norilsk (Blood River) forms part of an ongoing series on post-industrial landscapes. Executed in pietra dura, the work reflects on extraction, climatic instability, and landscapes shaped by industries built on assumptions of permanence.

Biography

Lola Prima Donna Daels °1990, Brussel (BE).
Member of Level Five, Brussels.

 

 

Lola Prima Donna Daels (b. 1990 in Jette, BE) is a Brussels based artist. Leaving from found objects, she poses critical inquiries about the ecological and socio-political situation. By reshaping and integrating her relics into new contexts she questions the concept of authenticity in our globalizing society. She has exponentially gravitated towards researching the human impact from an ecological preoccupation. She works site-specifically, both in research scope as well as in execution. 


Daels obtained her master degree in visual arts in 2014 at Luca School of Arts, Brussels. She has been part of several residency programs such as EKWC (NL), Kooshk recidency (IR) and Cité Internationale des Arts (FR). Her work was shown at Bozar (BE), Extracity Kunsthal (BE), Deegar Platform (IR), Art Sonje Center Seoul (KR) and many more.

Her interest in urban complexities led to the collaboration with architect and urbanist Sebastiaan Willemen. 

Upcoming

2026 
 

  • Found, Boekentoren Gent, BE
    Vernissage February 2, 2026
    3 – 27 February 2026
    Group Exhibition & the second part of the trilogy Lost and Found – Caring for What Is (about to disappear).
    The exhibition is curated by Tine Hens, author of Archief van mogelijk verlies (EPO, 2025).

     
  • Solo Exhibition, Salon Blanc Ostend, BE
    Vernissage October 24, 2026
    Solo Exhibition curated by Els Wuyts en Yves Velter.
     
  • Broek Festival (Nona), Groendomein Vrijbroekpark, BE
    Vernissage June 5, 2026
    Group Exhibition curated by Andrea Cinel.

Texts and publications

2025

  • Ruimte Magazine: Bomen & bossen, Meesterproef; Sociaal Wonen "Moederbos" P.67

  • A+ (306), Building for Culture, Sociaal Wonen P. 115.
     

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