RESUME
Bernarda NIBERA Conič (1992) – Master of Arts in Visual Communication Design.
Nibera (1992) is an interdisciplinary visual artist transcending the borders of fine art photography, graphic art, and design. Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, her images simultaneously reveal the beauty of our world and the devastating impact of humankind.
At 8 years old, Nibera’s father imparted his love of photography, purchasing her a disposable analog film camera. As a child, her teachers encouraged her to enroll in a high school program tailored to design and photography. She grew in her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering (2016) concentrating in pattern design and textile printing, followed by her Master’s degree in Visual Communication Design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana (2019).
During her college years, she worked as a music and event photographer. In the time of the pandemic, when all events and concerts were cancelled, she taught photography at the NIČ ART art school. Nibera has an extensive history of exhibitions, new media installations, and public art displays. She continues with freelance graphic design work, having created animations, music videos, and over 100 album covers for international musicians (2020 – 2022). Today, she balances her career as a graphic designer with her passion for fine art photography.
Nibera’s multidisciplinary practice takes inspiration from both nature and the complexities of history. Inspired by the 70s, 80s, and 90s, her work embraces analog technologies conveying a retro aesthetic. In what she has termed Nostalgic Environmental Magical Realism, she constructs experimental abstract landscapes highlighting environmental concerns in contemporary society. She encourages change, bestowing a vision of a world we may have lost but can still fight to reclaim.
EDUCATION
| 2019 | Academy for fine arts and design | MA / Visual communication design |
| 2016 | Faculty of natural sciences and engineering | BA / Fashion and textile design |
| 2011 | High school for design and photography | Photography |
EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
- 2022 / Burning Man Festival USA 2022 / Group Exhibition ”Waking Dreams”
- 2022 / MC Litija / Group Exhibition ”Z Vegove, Z Ljubeznijo”
- 2022 / Festival of contemporary collage KAOS 2022 / Group Exhibition ”Silence in Chaos”
- 2022 / DLUL / Group Exhibition ”Majski salon”
- 2022 / Art Vancouver 2022 / Group Exhibition ”A la recherche du temps perdu”
- 2022 / Atelier Obscura Portugal / Group Exhibition ”Angles Morts”
- 2021 / ZDSLU / Group Exhibition ”Winter Salon”
- 2021 / Lok4cija / Solo Exhibition ”Parallel Worlds Series III.”
- 2021 / Kunstmatrix / Virtual Exhibition ”Art in rug”
- 2021 / DLUM Gallery / Group Exhibition ”Welcome to young”
- 2021 / Digitalart4climate / Virtual Exhibition ”Humanity challenged by Climate Change 2021”
- 2021 / TAM-TAM Street Gallery / Group Exhibition ”Light/Darkness”
- 2021 / DLUL Gallery / Group Exhibition ”The Sky Is Yellow”
- 2021 / Layerjeva Hiša / Solo Exhibition ”Parallel Worlds and Melting Paradise”
- 2021 / ZDSLU Gallery / Group Exhibition ”Different, excellent. Young artists 2020.”
- 2020 / Mergentaler Street Gallery / Solo Exhibition ”Parallel Worlds”
- 2020 / Svetlobna Gverila / Group Performance ”Platonova Telesa”
- 2020 / BBA gallery Berlin / Group Exhibition ”The print swap”
- 2020 / DarkSide Collective / Digital Exhibition ”Nostalgia”
- 2020 / YLNS / Virtual Exhibition ”Open Exhibition 01”
- 2020 / MGML / Virtual Exhibition ”Art in this time of isolation”
- 2019 / Soteska 8 / Solo Exhibition ”Parallel Worlds”
- 2019 / NičArt / Solo Exhibition ”Spectrozator”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Solo Exhibition ”Just a dance”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Installation ”CRT garden”
- 2019 / Channel Zero / Video projection ”Everything goes 10 years”
- 2019 / Tivoli park / Projection mapping ”V2V Tivoli park jam”
- 2019 / Od:vod / Projection mapping ”Festival Od:vod”
- 2019 / Festival Lent / Video projection ”KALU & the gradient”
- 2019 / OSMO/ZA / Installation ”V2V: Nibera x Dimension”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Installation ”Just A Dance w/Futurski”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Group Exhibition ”K4 Photo exhibition”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Installation ”Just A Dance: Closing’’
- 2019 / Channel zero / Video projection ”KFT0”
- 2019 / Kino Šiška / Video projection ”KALU & the gradient (Festival Tresk)”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Installation ‘‘Just A Dance w/Nils Nilsson (NL)’’
- 2019 / Dobra vaga / Group Exhibition ‘APPOINTMENT #3’’
- 2019 / Kino Šiška / Group Exhibition ‘APPOINTMENT #3’’
- 2019 / Channel zero / Video projection ”Kung Fu Techno”
- 2019 / Klub K4 / Installation ‘‘Just A Dance w/Ric Piccolo’’
- 2018 / Pulz Second hand / Pop Up ”Parallel Worlds”
- 2018 / Klub K4 / Video projection ”Sezam”
- 2018 / Cankarjev dom / Group Exhibition ‘Ivan Cankar … in njegova pravica’’
- 2018 / Center slovanskih kultur / Group Exhibition ‘‘Noč A3 akademij’’
- 2018 / Svetlobna gverila / Projection mapping ”Sladke barve”
- 2018 / ALUO / Group Exhibition ‘‘Razstava ALUO 2018’’
- 2018 / Channel zero / Video projection ”Kung Fu Techno”
- 2017 / Indigo festival / Group Exhibition ‘‘Laž ali resnica sredozemlja’’
- 2017 / ROG / Video projection ”Audiorama”
- 2017 / ALUO / Group Exhibition ‘‘Zaključna razstava ALUO’’
- 2017 / NUK / Group Exhibition ‘‘Sreča je v knjigah, sreča je v slikanicah’’
- 2017 / Galerija UL / Group Exhibition ‘‘Razstava del študentov smeri grafično oblikovanje ALUO UL’’
- 2017 / FDV / Group Exhibition ‘‘Laž ali resnica sredozemlja’’
- 2017 / ROG factory / Video projection ”Audiorama 10 years”
- 2017 / AGRFT / Group Exhibition ‘‘Noč A3 akademij’’
- 2017 / ALUO / Group Exhibition ‘‘Semestrska razstava ALUO’’
- 2016 / Trg republike / Fashion show ‘‘Ljubljanski teden mode’’
- 2016 / AGRA / Solo presentation ”Ekoobjem”
- 2015 / Atrij meste hiše / Group Exhibition ‘‘Maks Fabiani: 150. obletnica’’
- 2015 / Jalla Jalla / Solo Exhibition ‘‘Till now – Do sedaj’’
- 2015 / Mitnica KOTO / Group Exhibition ‘‘Maks Fabiani’’
- 2014 / Škuc gallery / Fashion show ‘‘Perpetuum’’
- 2014 / Škuc gallery / Pop Up ‘‘‘POP-perpetuum-UP’’
- 2014 / Arheološki park Mirje / Fashion show ‘‘Perpetuum’’
- 2014 / Kino Šiška / Fashion show ‘‘Fashion week Aquafresh’’
- 2013 / Mestni muzej / Group Exhibition ‘Tiposrajca’
ARTIST STATEMENT
Being immersed in the untamed wilderness grounds Nibera, both physically and mentally. From this perspective, her work addresses humankind’s relationship with nature, recognizing our growing disconnect. While based in photography, she incorporates elements of collage, design, and even new media. Her work elevates the natural world to encourage people to regain awareness of the connection we have to our planet.
The scenes she captures become surreal, bordering between realism and abstraction. Experimentations with light, chemical, and process allow her to manipulate the images into abstract representations of what could have been. While she works with all forms of photography, analog films add a distinctive quality to her practice. Analog presents another level of artistry beyond merely replicating her subjects. She intensifies the colors of the natural world through a kaleidoscopic palette beyond what we could fathom. Surpassing Earth’s genuine naturalistic hues and tones, the colors signal a time and space prior to mankind’s abuse of the land and its resources.
Parallel Worlds represents the culmination of her artistic vision. This ongoing series situates us in an alternate reality. Here, nature has remained untouched by man. The images balance a commentary on the environmental issues dear to the artist and her hopes for a new and better world. Engaging with her signature analog techniques, she begins to disrupt the appearance of time. The physicality of film presents an inherent nostalgia and yet, we are peering into parallel realms or speculative futures.
Nibera is creating a visual language that offers an inspirational view of our world rather than the demoralizing alternatives often proliferated. In the wake of mankind’s neglect and toxicity, the natural world has become ephemeral, like the fleeting moments frozen by her lens. Nibera captures these instances, tells their stories, and builds a platform for awareness to encourage active change.