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Mikolji Press Kit
Who is Ivan Mikolji?
“If you are an admirer of the aquatic habitats of South America, you certainly know Ivan Mikolji!
He’s a world-renowned explorer, researcher, audio/visual artist, and author who tirelessly documents the magnificent diversity and wonder of this beautiful region of the world. His dramatic underwater videos are seen around the world, and his photographs have graced articles in numerous publications.
Ivan Mikolji is also an extremely accomplished artist, whose beautiful interpretations of the aquatic life of Venezuela and South America are sought after by collectors worldwide.”Scott Fellman, Tannin Aquatics
Ivan Mikolji’s right outside of his office, Venezuela. 
Ivan Mikolji with Jibi natives in the Venezuelan Amazonas.
Facts You Might Not Know About Mikolji
- Mikolji’s first camera was given to him by his sister at the age of 14, whom he considers guilty of what turned out to be his fate.
- Mikolji goes into the rivers for weeks to live with the species, earn their trust and document them closely.
- He has discovered new species of flowers, plants, fish and other specimens that are part of this underwater world that we thought we knew.
- In addition to photography, he always painted. In his paintings, in addition to including the shades that he witnesses underwater, he also adds elements with which he identifies himself.
- Mikolji questions the true color of what he sees: “what is real and what is not? Everything changes depending on the point of view from where you see it”.
Ivan Mikolji shooting landscape photographs in the Venezuelan Llanos.
- One of Mikolji’s top quotes is “you cannot protect what you don’t know exists”. And his mission is to make it more difficult for a person to throw garbage into a river after having seen his work.
- Ivan has discovered new species of flowers, plants, fish and other specimens that are part of this underwater world that we thought we knew.
- Mikolji says that his sister had canvas and oil paintings in a closet that she did not use. One day, the young Mikolji decided to use everything she kept and began to paint.
- Mikolji’s work can be defined as geometric abstractionism. It mainly consists of aquatic, underwater photographs, paintings and drawings. His photographic language is closely related to light and visions of the underwater world of rivers.
- There is a notable interest in Mikolji to use the best, highest quality materials and equipment. Maybe therein lies his success and reach.
- Mikolji did not know that his passion was underwater photography until he met Oliver Lucanis, who asked him to take him on an expedition through the Venezuelan Amazon to make a book that he later published.
Ivan Mikolji
FAQs
Who is Ivan Mikolji and where does he come from?
Ivan is a Venezuelan world-renowned explorer, researcher, audio/visual artist, and author who tirelessly documents the magnificent diversity and wonder of this beautiful region of the world.
What is Mikolji’s motivation?
The philosophy that moves his creative will is the urgency to preserve the aquatic ecosystems of the planet, and as a first step he considers it necessary to make known the richness and beauty of these biomes.
What can I find in his latest book, Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild?
A beautifully made coffee table book with over 150 different species of fish from the Orinoco river in Venezuela. For each fish you will find: Key information about the species, location, fish & plants from the same biotope, size, pH, temperature, and much more.
What is a Wild Aquarium? What is that about?
Mikolji’s ingenious idea of creating an ephemeral aquarium using only the materials found around a body of water has been applauded and emulated throughout the world. Once completed, all materials are promptly returned to nature. This has encouraged people around the world to take their hobby from inside their homes to the outside world, further encouraging ecological interaction. Wild Aquarium is a movement within the fish-keeping hobby which involves visiting an aquatic habitat such as a lake, river or stream and setting up a temporal aquarium in situ with the aim of mimicking the habitats seen on the spot. For the creation of a Wild Aquarium, only materials and animals collected from the specific habitat are used and are usually returned to their original setting once complete.
Orlando Escalante photograph of Ivan Mikolji working in a stream. 
Ivan Mikolji and Kenia Sandoval preparing for a nature photo shoot in the wild, image taken by Ofeni Ratjie Kasupi.
Wild Aquarium movement
Wild Aquarium is a movement within the fish-keeping hobby which involves visiting an aquatic habitat such as a lake, river or stream and setting up a temporal aquarium in situ with the aim of mimicking the habitats seen on the spot. For the creation of a Wild Aquarium, only materials and animals collected from the specific habitat are used and are usually returned to their original setting once complete.
Legendary river explorer Ivan Mikolji takes you on interesting freshwater journeys to secret locations in tropical jungles recreating the habitats of your tropical fish in an aquarium, using only natural elements found in their habitat. Follow the author and discover the unknown secrets of the world’s natural aquariums… the rivers.
Ivan’s Wild Aquarium video series started the Wild Aquarium movement. Ivan’s ingenious idea of creating an ephemeral aquarium using only the materials found around a body of water has been applauded and emulated throughout the world. Once completed, all materials are promptly returned to nature. This has encouraged people around the world to take their hobby from inside their homes to the outside world, further encouraging ecological interaction.
Book
Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild
This book will take you on an underwater photographic journey through clear water streams in the Orinoco River basin, featuring over 150 species of freshwater fish. Explore the natural underwater world of Venezuela and Colombia, in the Lost World, the Amazonas inselbergs, and other remote areas in the tropical rainforests of the Guiana Shield.
View the original colors of these species when they are in their natural habitats and get valuable information of their homes, including GPS locations, pH levels, and other species that share their biotopes. Learn what their scientific names mean or stand for, interesting anecdotes, observations of fish behavior in the wild, and underwater photography tips, such as camera settings and the gear used to take each image.
You cannot preserve something that you don’t know exists, so delight your eyes with every image and have fun expanding your aquatic knowledge with every page.
The book is a fusion between nature, science, and art.
Praise for the book
Have you ever wondered where all those beautiful tropical freshwater fishes come from or what it’s like where they live in the natural underwater world? Now you can finally find out! Ivan Mikolji has spent a lifetime capturing their wild essence and vibrant colors in natural habitats in Colombia and Venezuela and wants to share them with you. See for yourself in his amazing new book.
Prof. Donald C. Taphorn B.
Dive into the freshwaters of the Orinoco with the author and witness untouched aquatic flora and fauna first hand. The book is a definitive pictorial reference for the characins, cichlids and catfish of the Orinoco, where and how they live, as well as associated aquatic plants and sympatric fish species. Ivan Mikolji’s hundreds of unique underwater observations, first-class photographs and detailed notes unlock the secrets to many of our aquarium species in the wild.
Jeremy Gay – Author and former editor of PFK magazine.
Tropical fish from a different angle, literally. This Mikolji masterpiece is a must have for any Aquarist, Ichthyologist or aquatic hobbyist.