Biography

ME AND MY ARTWORK

The best lie is always hidden between two truths and because I’m trying to make a convincing illusion of art I hide it between the timeless world of inspiration and concepts. But since the nature of art is forever changing I suspect no one will ever know for certain if I was successful…

My name is Niko Bergles and I was born in Slovenia in 1985, lost and confused, and twenty years later began to study painting, which left mein the same state of mind. During my bachelor studies I've developed a style of painting that I call a graphical approach to figural painting. It is a style which combines old traditional Chinese art (paintings and woodcuts) with modern western art styles such as Pop Art, Secession and Surrealism.

Since then I have been painting women, usually femme fatale, and their spirit animals using this style. A spirit or a power animal is used to represent someone’s skills and character. This practice has been used in Eurasia and in the Americas for centuries or even millennia. Because I like its symbolism I decided to use it in my art and give it a modern twist.

LACQUER ART

At the moment I’m doing my Master of Fine Arts (Lacquer Painting) degree in Xiamen, China. Since I have already merged an eastern and some western art styles I decided to do the same with the painting techniques. For my paintings I use the traditional Chinese natural lacquer combined with chemical lacquers. I’m also adding traditional painting mediums such as eggshell, powders, metal foils but also my own materials such as rice, pearls, metal nuts, feathers, insects…

Because of this blend of styles, techniques and ideas my works are very unique and I try to make each one of my art pieces special; every painting is an experiment unto itself and has something my other paintings do not have. They are very three-dimensional and are provoking the hands of the passersby to touch them (which I always encourage because the lacquer protects them perfectly). They are waiting to be explored, felt and understood even though they are just material things. But to truly breathe life into them they need a conscious observer and I want that observer to be you. Together we can turn them into art, into more than just a wooden skeleton and a lacquer skin. If my works have made any impression on you, positive or negative, I invite you to send me a feedback and help shape the artwork that is yet to come. Thank you.