Maria Nikiforaki on a residency stay in Ljubljana

Maria Nikiforaki is a visual artist working in the intersection of performance art, film and dance. She uses choreography and film strategies to introduce social connotation to the movement and body, searching for performative practices that can introduce emotional worlds as a political stance. Maria will be in residence in Ljubljana from September 15 to October 31, 2025. In MGLC Švicarija she will create the third chapter for her Heroine of the project Rituals for New Futures.

Rituals for New Futures is an ongoing art project investigating rituals' transformative power in shaping political landscapes. Through performative practices, the project addresses urgent ecological concerns, whilst also embraces sci-fi feminism narratives, envisioning alternative futures where marginalised voices are amplified. The project features an imaginary, sci-fi-inspired female heroine and explores the essential elements—water, soil, fire, and air—and their potential as leading characters in creating sustainable futures.

The first chapter, entitled La Creación de Una Heroína, is set against the backdrop of Madrid and centers on the air as a spirit. This exploration intertwines the elemental nature of air with a narrative journey that delves into environmental consciousness, blending visual storytelling with supernatural themes.

The second chapter Awakening Death is set in the haunted beauty of Prague. Awakening Death delves into the element of soil, invoking its deep connection to memory, burial, and rebirth. The heroine embarks on a mythic journey through coal and fire—materials that not only power civilizations but also mark the scars of extraction and loss.

In the third chapter, produced in Ljubljana, the heroine will descend to the underworld.

More about the Rituals for New Futures