Niko Marinelli
Ritual, Ancestral, Erotic Art Performance
Art Director
Performer, Actor, Body Artist Master, Fire Dancer
Concept & Set Designer, Painter & Deco artist
Biography
I was born in Rome in 1983. I graduated in 2007 from the Actor Studio International in Rome and continued my artistic journey by experimenting with a fusion of the Strasberg method, meditation, and performance techniques learned during my travels across Europe, America, Africa and Asia.
In 2015, I developed my own concept of Ritual Body Painting, an art form that intertwines transcendental painting and meditation, gradually evolving towards a greater focus on scenic movement, ultimately leading to the creation of a true “Dance of Light.”
My performances blend Ritual Body Art and Experimental Avant-Garde Theatre, giving life to shows where matter, fire, and colors are shaped to the rhythm of music, evoking ancestral dances and mythological creatures. My goal is to offer the audience the sensation of taking part in a genuine mystical and transcendental experience.
Each new concept is meticulously crafted, adapting to the specific needs of every event.My performances take on infinite variations, stimulating unique sensory experiences. The audience can also be directly involved—depending on the event, they may be painted or interact with threads, colors, chains, or hot wax, becoming an integral part of the scene. Everything is executed with care, professionalism, and elegance.I have collaborated with numerous directors, performers, actors, dancers, jugglers, and acrobats, as well as musicians from various genres, developing a great ability to adapt to diverse artistic needs.
Since 2016, I have been the artistic director of Ritual and Erotic Art events and performances in Italy, and since 2022, also abroad, participating in prestigious events such as Torture Garden in London, ADA Divine Awakening Festival in Montenegro, and Muzika Organika in Slovenia. In Italy, I actively collaborate with The Sanctuary Eco Retreat, Wunder Kramer, Il Borgo della Mistica, Flirt Club, and Circo Nero Italia.
Since 2017, I have deepened my studies on Eros and Tantra, integrating them into my artistic experimentation. My Erotic Ritual Painting has thus acquired increasingly profound connotations, transforming into a medium for exploring and amplifying the sacredness of the body, conceived as the temple of the soul. My performances evoke ancestral drives, capable of elevating sexual energy beyond the ordinary state of consciousness, finding the perfect balance between sensuality, allure, and professionalism.
In 2019, I resumed my academic studies at the Cineteatro in Rome, focusing on shamanic acts and the performance techniques of Antonio Bilo Canella and Olivier de Sagazan.
Since 2020, I have been a holistic facilitator and lecturer on Erotic Ritual Painting, participating in international festivals such as ADA Divine Awakening Festival (Montenegro), Muzika Organika (Slovenia), and Chakaruna - Sciamanesimo dal Mondo.
Since 2020, I have brought intense and profound roles to the stage, embodying illness, the fear of living, inner struggles, a violent husband, and an erotic monster. Through theater, I explore the most complex shades of the human soul, giving voice to restlessness and passion.
In 2018 and again in 2022, I played the lead role in two acclaimed medium-length films, Viaggio and Bestie, selected by major Italian film festivals and also distributed on Prime Video.
In 2023, I was invited to lecture at Roma Tre University, as part of the Cultural Anthropology course held by Prof. Pietro Vereni, to explore the theme of contemporary rituals in modern society.
In 2024, I spent two months immersed in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, living in close contact with the Indigenous culture of the Indios. For seven days, I experienced total immersion in the life of the Inebu tribe, facing in solitude their way of existing in symbiosis with nature. At the heart of my research is the primordial bond between humans and the wild, bodily expression, and non-verbal communication, with the aim of awakening and expanding the instinctive, sensory, and behavioral capacities of human beings. The experience culminated in the attainment of a new balance, a deeper connection between the physical, emotional, and spiritual body and the surrounding environment.
Today, Experimental Avant-Garde Theatre is at the center of my artistic research, through which I investigate and give form to the desires and fears observed in contemporary society.
As a theater and film actor, creator of performances, installations, exhibitions, and workshops in Italy and abroad, as well as the founder and producer of numerous art and music events, including four festivals immersed in nature, I firmly believe that the true essence of art lies in the ability to master the stage and create—even in the face of the unknown and the unexpected.
The essential yet impactful stage designs integrate harmoniously with the surrounding space, merging with the location through a play of natural and technological elements. Among my most striking installations are special fluorescent thread structures, resembling laser beams, capable of creating large-scale three-dimensional figures (up to 40 meters), inspired by sacred geometry and designed to interact with the movements of both performers and the audience.
THE LOVERS | Ancestral & Ritual Body Art
The show intertwines Ritual Body Art, dance, and avant-garde experimental theatre, creating a hypnotic fusion of movement and symbolism. Matter, fire, and colors come to life in sync with the music, weaving between ancestral dances and mythological beings.At its core, the performance reveals the encounter with the Ancestral Divine Creatures that lie dormant within us—primordial forces that awaken only in the presence of an overwhelming energy, such as love or passion.These creatures are both mesmerizing and fearsome, as wild and powerful as they are delicate and uncertain. They emerge as symbols and archetypal forms, embodying my personal vision of love.The performance unfolds through every stage of love: the euphoria of infatuation, the fire of passion, the fear of loss or betrayal, the disillusionment of separation, and finally, the depth of mature love—when all masks are stripped away, revealing the raw essence of connection.
APOCALYPTO | Ancestral & Ritual Art
The show inspired by ancient Mayan rites combines elements of Dance, Erotic & Ritual Body Art and avant-garde experimental theatre.
Matter, fire and colours are moulded in time to music, between erotic, aerial and acrobatic dances.
BESTIE | Movie
For this project my role is lead actor, concept designer for the body art and the fluorescent scenography,
The film is still being shown on PRIME VIDEO
