Writings by Ilia Dolgov

Writing plays an essential role in my shared experience and knowledge ecosystem. It is always led by practice — whether that be hiking, plant-growing, or engineering — within which it tends to foster poetic and speculative theories.

Stylistically, I often borrow from 18th and 19th century nature philosophy, romantic poetry, and nature books for children, in an attempt to keep words naive, tender, and halting — as is the experience itself.

This list contains stand-alone texts only. More writing can be found on dedicated project pages.

On Merciful Mind

A poetic inquiry of nurturing the wretched consciousness amidst Suomi foresting industry farms.

A contribution for TUO TUO Arts Platform, 2022. Supported by Artists at Risk (AR).

Translated from Russian by Lisa Biletska.

Framework for Foamed Nothingness: Encountering Sciaponics

Describing the design of a new practice between horticulture and art, artist Ilia Dolgov outlines a stable-yet-agile approach to creative work beyond the limits of project-orientedness, institutionality, and disciplinarity.

First published at SYG.MA, 2021.

Translated from Russian by Lisa Biletska.

Sciaponics 05: Synonyms of Grace

The fifth chapter from the book "Sciaponics: The Work of Shadows".
Story of lupins' disease, graceful causation, and the sciacupid emergence.

More about the book.

Translated from Russian by Lisa Biletska.

Out of the Palms

A tremulous exersice in the politics of mimicry

First published in the Moscow Art Magazine, 2016.

Translated from Russian by Lisa Biletska.

A Dialect for Porous Worlds. On the First Issue of "Noga" magazine

A review on Kiev-based creative documentary magazine.

Syg.ma, 2020

How to make us technologic ones // Part 2. A Destructive Duo

An attempt to redefine our concept of what technology is from the perspective of personal tech-industry and plant-growing experience.

Syg.ma, 2020

How to make us technologic ones // Part 1. Puppies with Guns

An attempt to redefine our concept of what technology is from the perspective of personal tech-industry and plant-growing experience.

Syg.ma, 2020

— Back in this House, my Microscopes Share a Table with Blueberry Pie.

A review on Robin Wall Kimmerer's "Gathering moss".

Syg.ma, 2020

Plant-Growing-as-Theory, Plant-Growing-Theory, Coding-Theory

A sketch on symmetrical relations between things we usually label as "practice" and "theory".

Syg.ma, 2018

Metabolic Design

An inquiry into the flows and setups of material unconsciousness.

The Moscow Art Magazine №106, 2018

Animal-People

A letter for the future humans

Garage Russia №9, 2017

Dogs' Science: Morpho-sphere

Search for a common ground between morphology, intuition, perception, and emotions.

The Moscow Art Magazine №96, 2015

Guide for the Forest Walks

Garage Russia №6, 2015

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