Nika Batista (b. 1991) is an interdisciplinary artist who moves between performance, textile, body and contemporary art and design. Her work pursues harmony between conveying and visualising. As a centrepiece, she puts human being in all her/his/their emotional existence. Born and currently based in Slovenia she expands her work and concepts beyond physical, visual and emotional borders with subtility.
Artist Statement
Nika Batista (b. 1991 in Slovenia)
The only statement that I consider to be constant while I move through time and space is that I’m a human being. Everything besides that is moulded, interpreted, and transformed with consideration of everything that surrounds me or is within me in a certain period of my life. From my fashion background, I grasp the idea that I want to put a human as the centre-piece of what I create. May it be as a passive element or active participant; sometimes considered as a form of a body or a conceptual inner inspiration; one or a group of them.
I feel close to textiles, created by me or not, it allows me to actively research forms and shapes, to stretch the body outside of its original structure. Sometimes it allows me to stretch the space, physical and perceptional. Combining it with different materials, bodies, movement, stories and concepts, provides me with the possibilities of visually representing the story that I want to convey and that I wish to be experienced. May that be interactive installation, object or collection of them, clothing and body pieces, performance, or any other undefined method of presenting the final work. In all stages from the idea to the final presentation I consider it as one whole element, a project that is not assembled from the idea through the process to the final piece, but as one unit.
As a human is one of the important parts I also feel the same strength and need to convey a story, message, thought, or thought process. A background concept that is not only portrayed as inspiration but as an active part of the finished piece. In my work there can also be present an intention that something can be ephemeral, as that is often intriguing to my creative process.
I have been strongly influenced by the idea of how to portray something that is not tangible. Idea how to visually represent something that doesn’t exist in holdable form. Drawing inspiration from non-objects and portraying them through my interpretation. Imagine it as something that doesn’t have a physical form and it’s never going to have it unless I subjectively give it one. In my work, I want a strong presence of a mind, a mind that is not necessarily my own. This mind can be a critical part of how and if I continue with a specific project. Maybe through raising a question or discussion or presenting a story. I consider it as the final step of completion. It comes at the end and is considered a continued part of what I created beforehand.
My expressiveness is often taken from emotions and moods, in their all range and variety, and how they can be presented in installation form or performance piece. When inner reality creates the outer form. To pursue harmony between design and art.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2022: selected project and finished program PONI; Entrepreneurial thorough challenge. Under the management of Zeleni Kras, supported by the Republic of Slovenia and The European Regional Development Fund. Postojna, Slovenia
2020: a free-standing course in Project Management; part of EU-founded project Katalizatorji družbenih sprememb (eng. Catalyst of Social Changes). Online
2019: Excite 2.0 - Creatives Exchange program (in the scope of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs exchanges), work and learning period spent in Gothenburg, Sweden
2018: exchange semester in MA Textile Art, HDK (Academy of Design and Crafts, University of Gothenburg), Gothenburg, Sweden
2017: exchange semester in MA fashion design, Designskolen Kolding, Denmark
2016: started MA Textile and Fashion Design program at Faculty of Natural Science and Engineering, Department of Textiles; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
2010: started BA Textile and Fashion Design program at Faculty of Natural Science and Engineering, Department of Textiles; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
2010: completed Secondary School; classical program in Vipava, Slovenia
Awards/Publications
2016: award “Perspective” in Month of Design 2016, Ljubljana with group pH15, Slovenia
2014: award the Best Collection with Zero Waste concept and wholesome collection identity for collection Square me2 at Fashion Week. Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: 24th Biennial of Design in Ljubljana in group Fashion System; with collection MLMGC, created by group pH15; awarded by the jury with Honourable mention: Fashion System at BIO50. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Solo projects
2024: performance and textile installation named Unlove Me in 27 Minutes. Video of the performance and live performance. Produced by NÓT -Space for Art. Live performances in three acts. Ljubljana, Slovenia
2023: Textile installation named Undertone of Touch (sacral-chatarsic textile object) exhibited as part of Textile Art Biennal BIEN 2023 - The Sun. Installation was part of a group exhibition named underGROWTH in tunnels under the city Kranj. Kranj, Slovenia
2022: Urban performance named You Have a Voice as part of campaign Gremo volit! (eng. Let’s vote!) the underproduction of Institute 8. marec (performed and created with Urška Medved). Ljubljana, Slovenia
2021: Research, concept development, and as a result performance/installation named Up Close. As part of the Boundary crossing pilot project produced by Glej production house, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Kadir- Has University, Istanbul, Turkey; HKU Theater in collaboration with NUT (Nieuwe Utrechts Toneel), Utrecht, Netherlands
2021: self-produced video performance named Delayed Thoughtfulness, January 2021, Secovlje Salina Natura Park, Slovenia
2019: performance and costume design titled Aha, Aa, Ah in collaboration with Queenning Zhao at Skogen, Gothenburg, Sweden
2019: performance, textile installation, the corresponding mini collection titled E/IN MOTION in Slovenian National Theatre Drama, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2017: performance and collection titled MNOGOKDO:1991 as part of Fashion Week Ljubljana (supporting program) at Ljubljana Castle, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2017: a collection of body pieces (textile and metal accessories) titled Cutis Laxa
2017: object/intervention in nature titled SAMOinfoCIATIVA, exhibited in Kogl, Slovenia
2016: costume design for production of the performance titled Nikita. Rojena 1985. Theatre Glej, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: my work was part of the fashion show at Skuc Gallery with the collection Square me2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: Fashion collection presented at Ljubljana Fashion Week with fall/winter collection Square me2, awarded for Best collection with Zero Waste concept and wholesome identity of collection, Fashion Week. Ljubljana, Slovenia
2013: my work was part of a showroom exhibition at the Maximarket, a respectable Slovenian fashion store in Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: my work as part of a showroom exhibition at Midas, a respectable Slovenian fashion store in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Group projects
2024: textile and light installation named Stretching a Moment. Created together with Maruša Kranjc. Supported by Svetlobna Guerilla Light Festival, exhibited in Gallery Mitnica, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2022: part of ARTdvent calendar, a collaborative project with 6 local artists. Exhibited in Hiša Kulture Pivka. Pivka and Postojna, Slovenia
2022: exhibition titled Zastiranja (concrete-textile installation) with group pH15. Part of the Festival of Underground Architecture 2022, underground tunnels in Tezno, Maribor, Slovenia
2021: part of ARTdvent calendar, a collaborative project with 6 local artists. Exhibited in Hiša Kulture Pivka. Pivka and Postojna, Slovenia
2021: with pH15, textile installation for BIEN2021, Textile Art Biennial is about sustainability and heritage; that was exhibited as part of their program/ exhibition in Kranj, Slovenia
2019: with pH15 video, part of group exhibition Taking Patriarchy Apart, Berlin, Germany 2018: Presenting video Hande Kader with group pH15 x Warrego Valles; ITS LIQUID: International Art and Architecture Biennale; Bodies – Surfaces Festival, The Room, Venice, Italy
2019: with pH15 project Jaz sem Urška (ogledalo družbi), part of group exhibition Queen of the Bees (“Królowa Pszczół”): Rejected Proposals for public view; CWS Kronika, Bytom, Poland
2018: presenting video Hande Kader with group pH15 x Warrego Valles, Excessive Human Collective exhibition, Leeds, United Kingdom
2017: exhibition titled Odstiranja (concrete-textile installation) with group pH15, Govce nad Laškim, Slovenia
2017: a sustainable collection of shoes, concept, and research proposition project in collaboration with ECCO Shoes under the organization of Dsignskolen Kolding and ECCO Shoes design and production team. Bredebro, Denmark
2017: Collection with NOTINTHEDOT under the project Mladi v slogu, organized by ZSKD; defile in Trieste, Gorizia, and San Pietro al Natisone, Italy
2016: participated with art by pH15 and photography by NOTINTHEDOT in exhibition DSU ROG, at Zelenica, non-profit organization factory ROG, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2016: installation of textile and metal object called Kokon as part of light festival Svetlobna Gverila Light Festival 2016/ Kokon- Cocoon of social issues, at Square of French Revolution, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2015: art piece with an exhibition of photos and video in Bardot, Trieste called Blanka Polvo by NOTINTHEDOT, Slovenia
2015: installation of textile objects as part of Svetlobna Gverila Light Festival 2015/ Park Geometrika in Kongresni Square at centre of Ljubljana; under the guidance of mentor Kari Kola with design objects made out of metal and fabric. Ljubljana, Slovenia
2015: opening event/ exhibition/ installation of Shirting 04 by pH15 at Poligon; created by designer Elena Fajt (www.shirting.com). Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: part of 24th Biennial of Design in Ljubljana, Slovenia in group Fashion System; with collection MLMGC, created by group pH15; awarded by the jury with Honourable mention: Fashion System at BIO50. An extra event in KUD France Prešern as part of BIO50 with collection MLMGC by pH15. Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: part of project 'po-uporaba' organized by the University of Ljubljana and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (Republic of Slovenia) with a collection made out of 'old' clothes (principle of upcycling, redesigning, and other aspects of Sustainable fashion) called Magnesium. The opening event at KUD France Prešern where the collection Magnesium was presented. Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: participated with NOTINTHEDOT designs at a Pop-up store at Škuc Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: second collection by NOTINTHEDOT, called Meraki; shown at the event by DOUM; Centralna postaja, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2013: a first collection called Silent Svàrt by NOTINTHEDOT; with an accompanying opening event in boutique Bardot in Trieste, Italy
Work experience
2020: Specialized production (textile and pattern manipulation, making of objects) of solo exhibition artist Andrej Škufca: Softshell Creeper at Aksioma Project Space, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2019: work experience in a company for cultural production Onxy in Gothenburg, Sweden
2019: work experience in the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2018: I assisted in the exhibition Chiaru Shiota: The Distance (textile installation) at Gothenburg Museum of Art, working with the artist. Gothenburg, Sweden
2016: costume design for production of the performance/ theatre play titled Nikita. Rojena 1985. Theatre Glej, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2015-2019: work experience in theatre SNG Drama, Department of Costume Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2014: cofounder of independent creative design group/collective pH15, with the purpose of creating design and art with a strong social undertone.
2014: joined DOUM (Association of Young designers and artists, Slovenia)
2013: cofounded design and art brand NOTINTHEDOT with Valentina Cunja