Nika Rukavina, Rijeka
Biography
Nika Rukavina lives in Rijeka, Croatia. She holds a diploma in sculpture of Academy of Fine Arts in Venice and works in different media from performance, installations, painting, sculpture and video. Her primary interest is trying to find a different perspective on commonly accepted views. She exhibited in: frei_raum Q21, Vienna, Austria, Museum of Contemporary Art – Zagreb, Galerie 5020 – Salzburg, Austria; MLZ Art - Dep,Trieste, Italy; Kunsthaus - Graz,Austria; Magazzini del Sale - Venice, Italy; Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art - Rijeka, Croatia; Pyramida - Tirana, Albania; Cultural Center- Belgrade, Serbia; Blaenau Ffestiniog- Wales,UK; Gallery A + A, Venice - Italy; Gallery Bevilacqua La Masa - Venice, Italy; Gallery Nuova Icona - Venice, Italy. One of the winners of the Ivo Kalina Award, the city of Rijeka art award for the best exhibition in 2009 (VIA international art project).
Artist Statement
My art address the problem of social intolerance, discrimination, the impact of the repressive system and the environment on individuals who do not accept the imposed social consensus. I like to raise questions, especially those who break social norms and concepts, take the audience out of their "comfort" zone. My art practice and my workshops where always divided, but both of their aims were to point out injustices, to work on woman's self-esteem and to heal our past traumas through art. By linking my art practice and my workshop experiences, I try to have a more direct impact on thepublic. As Tania Bruguera said: "I don't want art that points to a thing. I want art being the thing". (Tate, n.d.) The art that only talks and points to a topic is not enough for me anymore. I am interested in art that gives the person the chance to engage and by doing so, to get an opportunity to change their perspective.
