Stefan Nikolaev
Biography
Born in 1970 in Sofia. Lives and works between Paris and Sofia.
The work of Stefan Nikolaev clearly revolves around the many transformations and hybridizations between what we know of everyday objects and the way the artist encourages us to reconsider them through the new forms and perspectives he invests them with. The apparent surface of his works conceals an evolving narrative, engaging with the complex relationships the artist maintains with life and death, time and space, consumption and the products of vital necessity. This story has unfolded fluidly over more than fifteen years of active presence on the international art scene.
The narrative is far from exhausted, and in recent years it has gained the kind of depth and strong presence that transforms the appealing and playful ideas of a young artist into a powerful artistic expression. He pays great attention to the formal execution of his works, to the point of being obsessed with the quality of their physical presence. Perhaps this is his way of making his works beautiful and communicative; or of making them lasting and enduring while overcoming the fears lurking deep within the thoughts that underpin them.
Stefan Nikolaev's characteristic treatment of form and ideas could be described as design-like, though diverted from conventional design: there is too much to read into his works, too much to associate and contemplate in their presence, for them to be approached in a purely functional way. This is probably what David Hockney referred to in his famous statement: “Art has to move you, which design does not, unless of course it's the design of a bus.”
Stefan Nikolaev's work has notably been exhibited at the 52nd Venice Biennale (Venice Bulgarian Pavilion), the 7th Lyon Biennale, Emergent (Belgium), the National Gallery / The Palace with Ricard Foundation (Sofia), the 4th Gwangju Biennale (Gwangju), the Ricard Foundation (Paris), ARC Project (Sofia), Parker's International Art Market (Brooklyn), CCA (Glasgow), Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Sofia Arsenal – Museum for Contemporary Art, Zwemmer Art (London), Antrepo 4 (Istanbul), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Thessaloniki), the Fondation Cartier pour l'art Contemporain (Paris), the The State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia (Moscow), the Château d'Asnières, BF15 (Lyon), and CCCOD – Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré (Tours). He was also the founder and co-director of the Paris-based art space Glassbox, established in 1997. He received the UNESCO Prize for Art at the 4th Cetinje Biennale.
The apparent surface of his works conceals a developing narrative, bringing into play the artist's complex relationships with life and death, time and space, consumption and products of vital necessity. This story unfolds its fluid course over more than fifteen years of active presence on the international art scene.
The plot is far from exhausted, and in recent years it has acquired the kind of depth and strong presence that transforms the attractive and playful ideas of a young artist into powerful expression. He pays great attention to the formal execution of his works, to the point of becoming obsessed with the quality of their physical presence. Perhaps this is his way of making his works beautiful and communicative; or perhaps it is his way of making them durable and enduring while overcoming the fears lurking deep within the thinking behind them.
Stefan Nikolaev's typical treatment of form and ideas could be described as characteristic of design, but of a design in the wrong direction: there is too much to read in his works, too much to associate and meditate upon in their presence to be understood in a purely functional mode. This is probably what David Hockney referred to in his famous statement: «Art should transport you, which design does not do, unless of course it is the design of a bus.»
Stefan Nikolaev represented Bulgaria at the 52nd Venice Biennale. He was the founder and co-head of the Parisian space Glassbox created in 1997. He received the UNESCO Prize for the Art at the 4th Cetinje Biennial.
His works have been exhibited in 7th Biennale de Lyon, National Gallery / The Palace with Fondation d'entreprise Ricard (Sofia), 4th Gwangju Biennale, ARC Project (Sofia), Parker's International Art Market (New York), CCA - Centre for Contemporary Arts (Glasgow), Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Sofia Arsenal - Museum for Contemporary Art (Bulgaria), Zwemmer Art (London), Antrepo 4 (Istanbul), National Museum of Contemporary Art (Athens), Fondation Cartier pour l'art Contemporain (Paris), The State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia (Moscow), Château d'Asnières (France), BF15 (Lyon), Fondation d'entreprise Ricard (Paris), CCCOD - Center of Contemporary Creation Olivier Debré (Tours)...
Selected works
Stefan Nikolaev
Summer, life is a waterfall , 2025
hammered and patinated copper, acrylic on wood, Murano and Bohemia glass neon
128 x 71 x 15 cm (50.39 x 27.95 x 5.91 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Valencia, Spain
N° Inv. NIKO25163
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Stefan Nikolaev
Carafe, Verre et Pommes , 2025
hammered and patinated copper, acrylic on wood, Murano glass neon
140 x 165 x 20 cm (55.12 x 64.96 x 7.87 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO25162
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Stefan Nikolaev
Iconic Work N°5 , 2025
painting on wood, hammered and patinated copper, murano glass neon
76 x 40 x 15 cm (29.92 x 15.75 x 5.91 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO25161
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Stefan Nikolaev
The dream house , 2025
hammered and patinated copper, bronze, Murano glass neon
90 x 70 x 16 cm (35.43 x 27.56 x 6.3 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO25158
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Stefan Nikolaev
TORSO (Contrapposto) , 2025
hammered and patinated copper, Murano glass neon
95 x 60 x 16 cm (37.4 x 23.62 x 6.3 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Paris, France
N° Inv. NIKO25157
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Stefan Nikolaev
Etang donnés, les Nymphéas , 2024
hammered and patinated copper, neon in Murano glass
85 x 144 x 16 cm (33.46 x 56.69 x 6.3 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO24153
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Stefan Nikolaev
Welcome Home , 2024
hammered and patinated copper, neon in Murano glass
98 x 77 x 16 cm (38.58 x 30.31 x 6.3 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO24149
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Stefan Nikolaev
Composition à la pipe et mandoline , 2023
hammered and patinated copper, Murano glass neon
140 x 95 cm (55.12 x 37.4 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO23143
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Stefan Nikolaev
Streetlight #5011 , 2023
painted aluminium RAL5011, 46 led bulbs (6 watts), glass
415 x 255 x 255 cm (163.39 x 100.39 x 100.39 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, France
N° Inv. NIKO23140
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Stefan Nikolaev
Composition à la guitare , 2023
hammered and patinated copper, Murano glass neon
145 x 97 x 16 cm (57.09 x 38.19 x 6.3 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Paris, France
N° Inv. NIKO23138
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Stefan Nikolaev
Still Life With Lemon , 2023
hammered and patinated copper, neon in Murano glass
100 x 100 x 25 cm (39.37 x 39.37 x 9.84 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Prague, Czech Republic
N° Inv. NIKO23136
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Stefan Nikolaev
Be yourself no matter what they say , 2022
wrought iron, gold leaf
Edition of 3 + 2 EA
Private collection, Sofia, Bulgaria ; Paris, France ; Valencia, Spain
N° Inv. NIKO22133
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Stefan Nikolaev
Deadline , 2022
marble, golden leaf, bronze, stainless steel
36 x 131 x 6 cm (14.17 x 51.57 x 2.36 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Sofia, Bulgaria
N° Inv. NIKO22132
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Stefan Nikolaev
Early still-life in nine colours , 2022
hammered copper, neons
217 x 200 x 34 cm (85.43 x 78.74 x 13.39 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Porto Heli, Greece
N° Inv. NIKO22131
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Stefan Nikolaev
What You See Is What You Got , 2022
15
102 x 100 x 16 cm (40.16 x 39.37 x 6.3 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO22129
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Stefan Nikolaev
Streetlight 5013 , 2022
aluminium, 46 led bulbs, glass
475 x 232 x 232 cm (187.01 x 91.34 x 91.34 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Porto Heli, Greece
N° Inv. NIKO22128
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Stefan Nikolaev
Half Life , 2021
copper and neon
82 x 77 x 15 cm (32.28 x 30.31 x 5.91 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Paris, France
N° Inv. NIKO21128
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Stefan Nikolaev
Ricchi e Poveri - Irony Masks , 2018
ironcast, gold leaf
50 x 40 x 15 cm (19.69 x 15.75 x 5.91 in)
Edition of 8 + 2 EA
Private collections : Paris, France / Brussels, Belgium / Sofia, Bulgaria
N° Inv. NIKO19120
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Stefan Nikolaev
Dreamwork #3 , 2018
enamelled ceramic
30,7 x 32 x 6 cm (11.81 x 12.6 x 2.36 in)
Edition of 3 + 2 EA
Private collections, Belgium
N° Inv. NIKO18115
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Stefan Nikolaev
Testament , 2018
aluminium cast, gold leaf
190 x 170 x 20 cm (74.8 x 66.93 x 7.87 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Belgium
N° Inv. NIKO18112
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Stefan Nikolaev
Streetlight #18111 , 2018
aluminium, 46 led bulbs, glass
400 x 250 cm (157.48 x 98.43 in)
unique artwork
Private collection, Ramatuelle, France
N° Inv. NIKO18111
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Stefan Nikolaev
Dreamwork , 2017
enamelled ceramics
55 x 48 x 6 cm / 21.6 x 18.8 x 2.36 in
Edition of 3 + 2 EA
Private collections : Sofia, Bulgaria / Brussels, Belgium
N° Inv. NIKO17107
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Stefan Nikolaev
I Walk a Labyrinth Which is a Straight Line , 2017
neon
7,5 x 250 cm (2.76 x 98.43 in)
Edition of 3 + 2 EA
Private collection, Marseilles, France
N° Inv. NIKO17106
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Stefan Nikolaev
Cartel for a bronze work, in bronze , 2016
bronze, black patina
15 x 11,5 x 0,5 cm (5.91 x 4.33 in)
Edition of 8 + 4 EA
Collection : Maison du livre, de l'image et du son, artothèque, Villeurbane, France
N° Inv. NIKO16102
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Stefan Nikolaev
One for the money, two for the show , 2015
neon, acrylic paint
32 x 160 cm (12.6 x 62.99 in)
Edition of 3 + 2 EA
Private collections : Barcelona, Spain / Paris, France / Neuilly-sur-Seine, France / Cap Ferret, France
N° Inv. NIKO16100
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Stefan Nikolaev
Autofiction , 2015
bronze, black patina
30 x 20 x 24 cm
Edition of 8 + 4 EA
Private collections, Sofia, Bulgaria
N° Inv. NIKO15091
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Stefan Nikolaev
Business, Model, Sculpture , 2015
bronze patina
47 x 105 x 55 cm / 97 kg
Edition of 5 + 2 EA
Private collections: London, UK / Sofia, Bulgaria / Paris, France
N° Inv. NIKO15088
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Stefan Nikolaev
No Way , 2014
neon
8.26 x 25.59
Edition of 5 + 2 EA
Private collection, Belgium
N° Inv. NIKO14086
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Stefan Nikolaev
If Things Are Not As You Wish, Wish Them As They Are #5 , 2013
bronze, black patina
73 x 66 x 19,5 cm
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO13082
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Stefan Nikolaev
If Things Are Not As You Wish, Wish Them As They Are #2 , 2013
bronze, black patina
73 x 92 x 11,5 cm
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO13079
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Stefan Nikolaev
If Things Are Not As You Wish, Wish Them As They Are #1 , 2013
bronze, black patina
114,5 x 126,5 x 25,5 cm
unique artwork
Private collection Belgium
N° Inv. NIKO13078
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Stefan Nikolaev
I Hate America and America Hates Me , 2013
bronze, black patina
36.22 x 23.23 in / 39 kg
Edition of 5 + 3 EA
Private collections: Lémeré, France / Sofia, Bulgaria / Istanbul, Turkey
N° Inv. NIKO13076
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Stefan Nikolaev
Untitled (Hammer) , 2012
bronze, black patina
84 x 23 x 7 cm
Edition of 8 + 4 EA
Private collection, Bulgarie
N° Inv. NIKO12075
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Stefan Nikolaev
What does not kill you makes you stronger, Fruit of the loom (27) , 2011
glazed ceramic, gold
12 x 13 x 20 cm (4.72 x 5.12 x 7.87 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO11064
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Stefan Nikolaev
What does not kill you makes you stronger, Fruit of the loom (26) , 2011
glazed ceramic, gold
12 x 13 x 20 cm (4.72 x 5.12 x 7.87 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO11063
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Stefan Nikolaev
Candelabra #5024 , 2010-2018
painted aluminum RAL5024, light bulbs
153 x 85 x 85 cm (60.24 x 33.46 x 33.46 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO18118
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Stefan Nikolaev
Candélabre , 2010
painted aluminum, light bulbs
85 cm (diam), 153 cm (height), 26,4 kg / 33.4 (diam), 60.2 in (hight), 26,4 kg
Edition of 8 + 4 EA
Private collections : Paris, France / Brussels, Belgium / Luxembourg
N° Inv. NIKO10064
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Stefan Nikolaev
Cry me a river , 2009
24 carat gold-plated copper
48 x 55 x 18 cm (18.9 x 21.65 x 7.09 in)
Edition of 3 + 1 EA
K11 collection, Hong Kong / Private collection, Brussels, Belgium / Private collection, London, UK
N° Inv. NIKO09024
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Stefan Nikolaev
What goes up must come down - Bulgarian pavilion, Venice Biennial 2007 , 2007
bronze, black granite, gaz generated flame
440 x 230 x 230 cm (173.23 x 90.55 x 90.55 in)
Edition of 3 + 1 EA
Collection : Koç, Istanbul, Turkey
N° Inv. NIKO08015
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Stefan Nikolaev
Lucky you , 2005
neon
diameter 100 cm
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO08017
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Stefan Nikolaev
Return to glory , 2005
engraved granite, golden leaf
30,5 x 120 x 77 cm (11.81 x 47.24 x 30.31 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO08009
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Stefan Nikolaev
Marlboro boxes - Silkscreen, Plywood, Paint , 2004
serigraphy on wood box
30 x 45 x 25 cm each
Edition of 10 + 2 EA
Collection : Michel Rein, Paris, France
N° Inv. NIKO08008
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Stefan Nikolaev
Come to where the flavour is , 2004
marble engraved, golden leaf, soil
unique artwork
N° Inv. NIKO08007
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Stefan Nikolaev
Minouk le poisson peintre , 1994 - 2003
color video
17' 35''
Edition of 3 + 1 EA
Corine Ricard, Paris France / Ali Dinckok, Istanbul, Turkey
N° Inv. NIKO08013
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Gallery exhibitions
Museum exhibitions
DOT Sofia, Bulgaria
DOT Sofia, Bulgaria
Emergent, Veurne, Belgium
Emergent, Veurne, Belgium
Emergent, Veurne, Belgium
Emergent, Veurne, Belgium
National Gallery, Sofia
National Gallery, Sofia
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Sarieva @DOT Sofia, Bulgaria, 2023 ph. Djelebova
Sarieva @DOT Sofia, Bulgaria, 2023 ph. Djelebova
Here you come again, Emergent, Veurne, Belgium, 2022
Here you come again, Emergent, Veurne, Belgium, 2022
Here you come again, Emergent, Veurne, Belgium, 2022
Here you come again, Emergent, Veurne, Belgium, 2022
25 years and 5 themes later. Ica-Sofia retrospective, National Gallery / The Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria, ph. Kalin Serapionov
25 years and 5 themes later. Ica-Sofia retrospective, National Gallery / The Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria, ph. Kalin Serapionov
Streetlight, Toutes Les Lignes Droites Sont Courbes (cur. by Yolande De Bondtridder), Villa Carpentier, Ronse-Renaix, Belgium, 2020
Streetlight, FIAC Projects, Avenue Winston-Churchill, Grand Palais, Paris, France, 2018, ph. Marc Domage
On a clear day you can see forever, Galerie - Goethe-Institut Bulgarien, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2018, ph. Galia Yotova
Sculpture project, Art Brussels, Belgium, 2018, ph. David Plas
Parcours Saint-Germain, Paris, France, 2018, ph. Alice Gotheil
Parcours Saint-Germain, Paris, France, 2018, ph. Alice Gotheil
I Walk a Labyrinth Which is a Straight Line, St Joseph church, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2017
I Walk a Labyrinth Which is a Straight Line, St Joseph church, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2017
Stefan Nikolaev: I Walk a Labyrinth Which is a Straight Line, SARIEV Contemporary, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2017
Stefan Nikolaev: I Walk a Labyrinth Which is a Straight Line, SARIEV Contemporary, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2017
Business, Model, Sculpture, SARIEV Contemporary, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2015
Business, Model, Sculpture, SARIEV Contemporary, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2015
Business, Model, Sculpture, SARIEV Contemporary, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2015
Why Duchamp ?, Sofia Arsenal Museum, Bulgaria, 2012
N Minutes Video Art Festival, Shanghaï, China, 2011
Holy Spirit Rain Down, Les Eglises - Centre d'Art Contemporain, Chelles, France, 2010
Holy Spirit Rain Down, Les Eglises - Centre d'Art Contemporain, Chelles, France, 2010
Holy Spirit Rain Down, Les Eglises - Centre d'Art Contemporain, Chelles, France, 2010
52th Venice Biennial, Bulgarian Pavilion, Italy, 2007
52th Venice Biennial, Bulgarian Pavilion, Italy, 2007
52th Venice Biennial, Bulgarian Pavilion, Italy, 2007
Powerful Tips, Centre de Création Contemporaine, Tours, France, 2006
Powerful Tips, Centre de Création Contemporaine, Tours, France, 2006
Powerful Tips, Centre de Création Contemporaine, Tours, France, 2006
Powerful Tips, Centre de Création Contemporaine, Tours, France, 2006
Powerful Tips, Centre de Création Contemporaine, Tours, France, 2006
Come to where the Flavour is, CCA, Glasgow, UK, 2005
Come to where the Flavour is, CCA, Glasgow, UK, 2005
Come to where the Flavour is, CCA, Glasgow, UK, 2005
Bad Lux, Zoo Galerie, Nantes, France, 2005
Frontalunterricht (with Robert Stadler), Fondation d'entreprise Ricard, Paris, France, 2003
Monument to Monument, Transit, Chur, Switzerland, 2003
Monument to Monument, Transit, Chur, Switzerland, 2003
Under Reconstruction, 4th, Cetinje Biennal, Montenegro, 2002
Under Reconstruction, 4th, Cetinje Biennal, Montenegro, 2002
Under Reconstruction, 4th, Cetinje Biennal, Montenegro, 2002
Under Reconstruction, 4th, Cetinje Biennal, Montenegro, 2002
HLM, Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, 1994, Musée français de la carte à jouer collection
HLM, Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, 1994, Musée français de la carte à jouer collection
Videos
FOCUS WORK
"Streetlight" FIAC projects 2018
EXHIBITION
Stefan Nikolaev, "Still Life", at Michel Rein, Paris, 2022
DOCUMENTARY
"Half Life" with Stefan Nikolaev. A film directed by Stanislav Valade. A AM Art production, 2022.
Press
Le Quotidien de l'art
Pleins feux sur Paul Czanne Aix-en-Provence
2025
The Art Newspaper
Retour aux sources pour Private Choice
2024
Le Quotidien de l'Art
Toutes les terres du monde
2023
I.G.A
Stefan Nikolaev presents STILL LIFE, a positive statement of its French translation: nature morte.
2022
Le Monde
Stefan Nikolaev
2020
Vogue
Les 12 oeuvres les plus spectaculaires repérées à la FIAC
2019
Public Art
Stefan Nikolaev
2019
24H
Stefan Nikolaev
2018
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Publications
One for the Money Two for the Show
Publisher: Les Presses du réel
2012
