Maria Nikiforaki

Maria Nikiforaki (born in 1988, in Chania, Crete; based in Athens, Greece) is a visual artist working in the intersection of performance art, film and dance. She uses choreography and film strategies to introduce social connotations to the movement and body, searching for performative practices that can introduce emotional worlds as a political stance. Her art explores the personal and the political through a scope of choreo-politics. 

RESIDENCY 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, Rituals For New Futures addresses urgent ecological concerns, whilst also embracing sci-fi feminism narratives, envisioning alternative futures where marginalised voices are amplified. The project seeks to redefine our understanding of sustainability, suggesting that the intersection of spirituality, community, and performance can illuminate pathways toward a more equitable and vibrant future. As Hannah Arendt noted, we are yet to discover the kinetic knowledge that can lead us toward freedom, where we can uncover the true essence of politics.

The first chapter, La Creación de Una Heroína, was set against the backdrop of Madrid and centred on the element of air as a spirit. The next chapter, set in Prague, will focus on the element of soil, and it will be looking at coal in particular. The project will embark on a journey to give coal a spiritual navigating character, whilst exploring coal industries role in creating political and environmental landscapes of human and non-human communities.

Date of residence: 20.03. — 30.04.2025

EDUCATION

2015    Masters Degree - MFA in Fine Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK

2012    Postgraduate Degree - BFA, (MA) in Fine Art and Art Education (DISTICTION), Athens School of Fine Arts under P. Charalampous, Greece

2011    ERASMUS program, Central Saint Martins, University of London, UK

AWARDS

2019    Winner of ARTWORKS Award - Stavros Niarchos Foundation Artist Fellowship Program, Greece.

2019    Trinity Laban Dance Award /MA Choreography 2020-2021, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London UK.

2013    Performance Voyage 3 Festival Video Performance Award, organised by the Artists’ Association MUU, Helsinki, Finland.

SOLO EXHIBITION

2024    “Hydrodance: Elephant Cave”, Katre Hamam, Chania Crete 2024, curated by The Office of Hydrocommons, ATOPOS CVC. Supported by the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Chania and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGS, PERFORMANCES

2025  “Pro Femina” group exhibition, curated by Kostis Christidis, Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete CCA

2024    "Semana Arte", Matadero CRA, Madrid, Spain

2023    “Tongue Animal”, part of “Lavreotiki Land” curated by Amalia Charikiopoulou, Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park

2023    "HYDRODANCE", Wet Heart Exhibition, part of the Office of Hydrocommons, Atopos CVC, curated by Eleni Riga

2022    “Sky Waver” Live performance, “V.A. Initiator 2022” Residency Program, part of 2023 ELEVSIS Artistic program of Eleusis European capital of culture

2021     “No running water, Relocation, settlement and production of Identities - Nea Ionia Attica 1923-2021”. Research program and exhibition, Yellow Brick, with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports Greece, Athens, Greece

2020    Water Boatman, live performance, part of the show Unhappy Monuments, curated by: Christoforos Marinos, Art historian, OPANDA curator of art exhibitions and events, organised by: OPANDA & ARTWORKS ARTWORKS Founding Donor & Exhibition Donor: Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Athens, Greece

2019    Criss Cross 2 | Studying Encounters, part of the project CRISS CROSS | ARTIST- ON-ARTIST COΝVERGENCES curated by Eva Giannakopoulou, Yiannis Melanitis and Panos Sklavenitis. Supported by ASFA, Isba-Besançon and Montagne Froide/Cold Mountain

2019    A FIELD GUIDE TO GETTING LOST VOL.2, curated by Christina Dilari & Amalia Charikiopoulou, part of the 11th Aegina Fistiki Fest. Under the auspices of KEDA (Public Welfare Institution of the Municipality of Aegina)

2018    The Storm is coming, Live Performance Athens 2018, Beyond Human impulses Performance Festival, Athens, Monastiraki, April, Organized by Eva Isleifs and A- Dash, with cheap art

2017    'Learning From Documenta' Workshop 4 - d14/Narratives Reshuffled curated by Elpida Rikou. With the academic support of the Athens School of Fine Arts and the Anthropological Research Laboratory – Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences

2017    'FERRY HOUSE' , Atelier Kikladon 8, House of Spiteri, by architect Proveleggios, Athens, Greece. Initiated by Panos Charalampous, and curated by Dionysis Sotovikis. A group show of 16 artists and former colleagues at the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA)

2016    Performance Event GOMENES I, by Netting The Work, curated by Eva Giannakopoulou and Rilene Markopoulou, in the context of the Athens Biennale 2015-2017 "OMONOIA", Athens, Greece

2015    Latitude Film Festival, Big Screen, London, UK

All information is current as of February 21, 2025