RESUME
Bernarda NIBERA Conič (1992) – Master of Arts in Visual Communication Design.
Nibera (1992) is a versatile and interdisciplinary visual artist, who transcends the borders of various creative fields including fine art photography, graphic art, illustration, animation, and design. Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Nibera has gained global recognition for her work, with nearly 200,000 followers on her social media channels. As a self-employed, full-time artist, Nibera wholeheartedly devotes her time and energy to the pursuit of her artistic vision, constantly pushing the boundaries and exploring new possibilities within the realm of visual art.
Nibera’s passion for photography was ignited at the age of 8, when her father gifted her a disposable analog film camera. Her natural talent was quickly recognized by her teachers, who encouraged her to enroll in a high school program specializing in design and photography. She emerged from the program with the title of professional photographer. Nibera continued to develop her skills and creativity in her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering (2016), where she focused on pattern design and textile printing. In 2019, Nibera completed her Master’s degree in Visual Communication Design from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana.
Nibera’s passion for photography led her to work as a music and event photographer in 2016. However, with the pandemic’s onset in 2020, the music and event industry took a hit, resulting in the cancellation of events and concerts. As a result, Nibera found herself facing limited opportunities to earn a living.
She taught photography at the NIČ ART art school for a brief period, in order to continue sharing her knowledge and passion for the craft, after the event industry was shut down due to the pandemic. Alongside her art practice and teaching, Nibera also owned and operated a photography studio from 2016 to 2020, gaining a unique perspective on the creative process from concept development to production, as well as the business aspects of running an independent studio.
As an accomplished artist, Nibera has an extensive history of exhibitions, new media installations, and public art displays. Additionally, she has honed her skills as a freelance artist, having created animations, music videos, and over 250 album covers for international musicians since 2020. Even with her professional pursuits in graphic design, Nibera has never lost sight of her passion for fine art photography. Today, she balances her freelance business with her love for creating evocative and thought-provoking fine art photography pieces.
Nibera draws inspiration from nature and the intricacies of history, which informs her multidisciplinary practice. Her work fuses analog and digital technologies to create a distinct retro aesthetic, influenced by the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Her fine art photography reflects an art movement that can be defined as Nostalgic Environmental Magical Realism, featuring experimental surreal landscapes that draw attention to environmental issues in today’s society.
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
- 2023 / International Biennal Of Art Visions / Group Exhibition ”LIE”
- 2023 / Galerija MEDIJA / Group Exhibition ”MISTERIJ GEA”
- 2023 / Post Office Projects Gallery Australia / Group Exhibition ”Horizonites”
- 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 / Kibla Portal / Group Exhibition ”Majski Salon”
- 2022 / Art Vancouver 2022 / Group Exhibition ”A la recherche du temps perdu”
- 2022 / Atelier Obscura Portugal / Group Exhibition ”Angles Morts”
- 2022 / Seattle NFT Museum / Group Exhibition COP26 Collection “Humanity Challenged by Climate Change”
- 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 mestne 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’
AWARDS
- 2023 / International Photography Awards™ IPA / Professional Analog – Landscape Category / 3rd Place Winner
- 2023 / AS International Film Photography Awards / Landscape Category / Gold Winner
- 2023 / AS International Film Photography Awards / Nature Category / 2. Prize
- 2023 / EuroSpaceHub / EuroSpaceHub Music & Space Art Contest / 1. Prize
- 2021 / DIGITALART4CLIMATE / COP26 Art Competition / Finalist
- 2019 / Tresk #10 / Contest for An innovative Approach to event design and Advertising / 2. Prize
- 2015 / Center of Slovenian Architecture / Competition for Best Stationery Design / 1. Prize
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.