Disillusioned Glamour
To each his own progression through color,
space and gesture. Niko, was born in Montreal in a family of artists,
and was influenced by her nomadic lifestyle in glamorous places. She
worked in the fashion industry and traveled the world and has since
depicted a world of appearances that cultivates one's image as if it was
a biography.
With strokes and lines, impulsive brushes, bright
colors and contrasts, she paints women with a vibrant and crying
sensuality that is expressed with full lips and make-up. Their gaze
taunts the spectator and expresses the artist's questions, or perhaps
our own. It is up to us to find our own meaning. This work of art can be
translated in many languages but depending on perception and filters,
everyone's interpretation is different. We rarely speak about the
violence against physical beauty. In a world of appearances focused on
the ideals of youth and a perfect face, we forget that behind this face
or mask, the difficult consequences of these standards and beauty may
lay hidden. In a dual system there is always a hidden and dark side. An
invisible violence is expressed in the wings of pretense.
"A
beautiful woman may arouse envy, desire and adulation but also the
opposite" according to Niko. We try to find her flaws. We may disfigure
her with contempt and often with jealousy. Women don't always appreciate
another one's beauty, because of their compared physical attributes, or
because of ideology and feminist values. Men forget that she is more
than a pretty package, a sexual prey or a trophy carried with pride.
Like every other woman, she may or may not be witty. We may forgive her
foolishness but in most cases we are unforgiving. This foolishness
becomes an easy weapon to destroy her beauty. ''Some women are so
destabilized by a man's gaze and depend on it to such an extent that
they lose control over their emotions and see other women as rivals.
More than anything, they want to please, rather than building their
inner well-being. Beauty may be found in all things for those who know
how to recognize it, but it first must be found in oneself.''
In
Niko's work, faces with exaggerated make-up, a disillusioned and
surprisingly immobile stare, carry their own meaning. Do they show
another image of themselves? An unconventional image? Every woman poses
for the camera. Those who hide from the lens probably also hide from
something else. An immortalized image set on paper. These circumstances
aren't a coincidence. Like a mirror, the artificial and frozen image,
may show us something familiar that we would rather not see.
A Metamorphosed Face
In
her new series, one or several women are at the center of the canvas.
Their skin color and the setting often changes but there is more to it.
Their gaze is different. ''The way I see myself and other women is also
different, says Niko. The question of respect, self-respect, influences
my compositions. I was often told that women had a sad or mysterious
stare. It is now more serene but also more direct. It is probably
because I have nothing to hide. I am more detached from the male gaze.
In my life and work, I let it go. I used to try to please and control my
gestures. The Vagina Monologues made me think about my life, my
sexuality and my art. The questioning remains...''
Niko studied
at the La Renaissance Fine Arts School. She then took drawing at the
Saidye Bronfman Centre. She studied and specialized in portraits. From
her daily practice of yoga and meditation, which is necessary for her
balance, she finds the energy to paint and grow as a human being. ''I am
less focused on appearances and belongings, pleasing collectors and
selling my paintings, which used to be a source of tension. I am more
detached, serene and find more joy in painting.''
She will not
only be part of this prestigious event based on The Vagina Monologues,
which brings her great pride as a woman and artist. ''I am filled with
gratitude.'' Respect, self-esteem, solidarity, a profound dialogue
between women and refusing violence are at the heart of her approach. By
looking at the reality and points of view of other women, she has
helped her own evolution and broadened her own horizons. Some issues
that she hadn't paid attention to, because she was not directly
confronted to them, now guide her inspiration, as her paintings show us.
An evolution to be continued.
* by Louise-Marie Bédard
BIRTHPLACE
Montreal, Canada
EDUCATION
2005
Centre Saïdye Bronfman,
1992-1993
Centre Saïdye Bronfman,
1991-1992
Étude du portrait avec Carl Dubreuil,
1989-1991
École des beaux-arts «La Renaissance»,
1988-1989
Art thérapeutique avec Nicole Bolduc,
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS
Mai 2009
V.I.P. expo Delta Hotel - Galerie Robert Senneville, Sherbrooke, Qc,Canada
Mars 2008
«Inner Joy», Galerie MX, Montreal, Canada
Mai 2006
«Alter Ego», Zero Celsius, Sainte-Adele, Québec, Canada
Schwartzkoff International, Toronto
2001
Galerie Niko, Montreal, Canada,
2000
Exposition à Malaga, Espagne,
1998
«Master Personality», Laval, Quebec, Canada,
«Sensual Girl» Exhibition, Boucherville ,Quebec, Canada,
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
9 Mai 2009
"Des Carrés D'As", Vernissage Internet, Galerie iris, Baie-Saint-Paul, (Canada)
Déc. 2008
Make-a-Wish Foundation, Galerie MX, Montréal, Canada
June 2007
Galerie MX, soirée Rendez-vous, Montréal, Canada
Déc. 2007
Galerie MX, 12x12, Montréal, Canada
2007
Exposition annuelle, Galerie Iris, Baie-St-Paul, Québec
2006
Las Olas Fine Arts, Strawberries&Champagne, Fort Lauderdale, Floride, U.S.A.
2004
Las Olas Fine Arts, Frank Milo and Niko, The Artist Newest Pieces, Fort Lauderdale, FL, U.S.A.
RIMA Fine art Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.
1999
Chambre des commerces de Montréal, Canada
PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Pilliteri Estates Winery
Houston Restaurant
Pizzedelic Restaurant
Hair Style Salon «La Scala»
Schwatzkoff International
Infomonde, Translation Firm
Zibo, Restaurant-Bar
Polar Bear Club
WaxMan Tuxedo Inc.
PERMANENT GALLERIES
Galerie MX, Montreal, Québec
Las Olas Fine Arts, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A.
Galerie d'art Beauchamp, Québec, QC, Canada
Galerie Iris, Baie-St-Paul, Québec
Galerie Robert Senneville, North Hatley, Québec
Koyman Group Galleries, Ontario, Canada
P.O.S.H. Gallery, Port Carling, Ontario, Canada
Rima Fine Art, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.
Galerie 2000, Montréal, Québec
French Art Gallery, New Orleans, LA, USA
Onessimo Gallery, Palm Beach, Fl, USA
Scoot Laurent collection Gallery, Winter ParK, FL, USA
Grand Bohemian Gallery, Orlando, FL, USA
Galerie Le Castelet, Saint-Sauveur-des-monts, Qc, Canada
PUBLICATIONS
BOUCHARD, Raynald. «Niko, Effervescence, sensualité, érotisme et énergie brute!» Parcours, vol. 11, no 1, Printemps 2005, p.7
DALLARD, Marc-Olivier. « Le retour de la fille prodige», Acces, vol. 9 no 20, 26 Mai 2006, p.11
SCOTT, Marian. «Monologists Speaks Out Against Violence», The Gazette, Arts & Life, 10 Mars 2008
CAMPBELL, Jennifer. «Stars Lend Voices», The Gazette, Life Section, 6 Avril 2008, p.A22
EVENTS
Mars 2009
Dédicaces du livre «Inner Joy», Galerie Le Castelet, Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, Québec
2008
Lancement du livre «Inner Joy», ISBN-13 978-2-9806724-3-9, 56 pages
24 Février 2006
Lancement du nouveau cépage du Vignoble «Pillitteri Estates» ''i baci'' image de marque du produit réalisée par Niko
2005
Peinture en direct, Galerie Le Castelet, Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, Québec
