Your name Bernarda Nibera Conic Place of birth Ljubljana, Slovenia Place where you live now Ljubljana, Slovenia 3 words to describe you Creative, Vintage and Adventurous Why do you take pictures? I've been taking pictures for a long time. I started when I was only 8 years old and it was out of curiosity. Not so long ago, I realised that I do not feel fulfilled without photography. Film photography is food for my soul and a medicine for my mental health. I practice mindfulness through film photography processes. Where do you get your inspiration? Planet earth is my greatest inspiration. Besides nature, I find inspiration in old books, magazines and postcards. The aesthetic of photography from 70s and 80s always triggers my creativity. Who are your influences? I'm interested in unconventional approaches to landscape photography such as work of Brendan Pattengale. I also like to look at old National Geographic magazines and I feel very influenced by images taken between 1970 and 1990. I adore the early work of Jess Lee for example. What determines the subject matter you choose? Subject matter comes naturally from my current state of mind or situation I'm in. My concepts are always an expression of my current concerns of the world or my personal distress. When I deal with climate anxiety I feel a need to be in nature more and connect with it. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person that sees the true essence and beauty of nature so I want to capture it and show it to the world. I realized that we can look at the same direction but see a completely different image. What impact would you like your art to have? I realized recently that in the first place, I want people to feel good when they look at my art. I am receiving more and more messages that my art inspires other people to see the world more beautiful. There is so much depression and anxiety among millennials. Times are uncertain, life is expensive, we cannot afford to own a home, we are concerned about nature and the climate ... We feel lost and stuck. The second impact is that other photographers are picking up their old film cameras because they feel inspired by my work. I want film photography to live and don't want it that old analog cameras are just decorative. The third impact I want my work to have is to raise awareness on climate change and environmental crisis in a subtle way. What artwork do you never get bored with? I can never get bored with vintage and retro art. Is there anything you want to add? If you want to discover more about me and my work you can visit my website: www.nibera.eu
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, chemicals 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.
