Nina Sumarac is a Serbian-Cypriot multidisciplinary social visual artist based in Cyprus, with a background in fine art, painting and mechanical engineering.
Her work questions the very nature of daily global and bio-political narratives which form the fabric of our consciousness and, in a sense, are the revisitation of past experiences. By articulating them through a poetic and often metaphorical lens, Sumarac uses a critical approach and visual vocabulary that pieces together a variety of social and political issues, questioning how we embody socially constructed stereotypes on a personal and collective plane in an endeavour to develop new ways of thinking.
“Combining my passion for engineering, fine art, and philosophy, my current evolution focuses on intermedia art, integrating new media and technologies with varied artistic practices as a means of seeking out ways of healing and empowerment. I am interested in investigating what it means to be human in the present era of new technologies, examining ideologies related to personal, social, and political boundaries, as well as the relation between organic and AI organisms/algorithms, and the power struggles arising from these debates.”
She attended the Polytechnic University for New Technologies in New Belgrade, where she studied mechanical engineering and computer numerical control systems. She earned a BFA from Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art from Cyprus College of Art in Larnaca.
Sumarac is a multi-awarded artist. Her works are in permanent collections of the State Gallery of Contemporary Cyprus Art, Municipal Gallery Limassol, Byzantium Museum in Nicosia and private collections.
Since 2001 Sumarac has had ten solo exhibitions and has participated in numerous international exhibitions.
For more than fifteen years Sumarac had worked on experimental films and animation production by Toonachunks animation studio with which today she collaborates.
She is one of three founders of the contemporary art group Arboreal Collective
and a team member of the Lab for Animation Research which operates as a research centre within the Department of the Fine Arts, Cyprus University of Technology.
Education:
1986/87-91 Computer numerical control systems, CNC Systems, Polytechnic University for New Technologies, New Belgrade
1988-1991 Painting Certificate, Polytechnic University for New Technologies, New Belgrade, tutor Natasa Brkic,
1991/92 -96 Mechanical engineering in CNC Operating Systems at Polytechnic University for NT, New Belgrade
2006-2007 Cyprus College of Art, Limassol – ASET Certificate in Fine Art
2007-2009 Buckinghamshire New University and Open College of Art, UK with OCA Award for Painting
2009-2010 Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts at Cyprus College Of Art, Larnaca
Associations:
ULUPDS - The Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Serbia
E.KA.TE. (IAA)- The Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts, Nicosia Cyprus
Solo Exhibitions:
2001 Colors and Textures, Old Library, Limassol, CY
2004 Letters Home, Old Library, Limassol, CY
2006 No Place Like Home, Pi, Limassol,CY
2008 My Animal and Other Families at RouanArt Gallery Limassol CY opened by Dr Nadia Anaxagorou
2012 Neometano Zurenje curated by Natasa Brkic at SKC Novi Beograd, Beograd, SERBIA
2013 Uninterrupted Stare at RouanArt Gallery Limassol opened by Helen Black
2014 Uninterrupted Stare at Altstadthalle Gallery, Zug, Switzerland; opening
2015 Uninterrupted Stare – Daemons at Mala Galerija ULUPDSa , Belgrade, Serbia
2015 Polychrome with Rodica Lomnasan at Chiaki Kamikawa Contemporary Art, Paphos
2015 Uninterrupted Stare - Daemons at Galerie d'Art - Art.Culture, Bordeaux, France
2022 I'll See You In The Trees, Estação – Associação Cultural, Canelas-Estarreja, Portugal.
Curating and organization the exhibitions with Arboreal Collective art team in collaboration with Lab for Animation Research (LAR) Department of the Fine Arts, Cyprus University of Technology.:
2022 "The Forest Project" NeMe Arts Centre participating with the work "I'll See You in The Trees"
Selected Group Exhibitions, Residencies and Workshops:
2004 “UNCLAIMED LUGGAGE” Nomadifesta Lusignan Hall, Nicosia curated by Klitza Anthoniou ARTRAGEOUS GROUP
2007 Artists Group CINEMA No.1 ART STUDIO 55, Limassol by Pegasus Art Foundation
2008
YK:EM Selfportrait at NIMAC (Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre)(OLD Power House) curated by Sofia Hadzipapa
2012
VINAIGRETTE, The ARTHOUSE 59, CY
"EROS.art" Art Studio 55 by Pegasus Art Foundation
"2nd women painters exhibition" at Pyrgos Congress, Nicosia selected by Mary Pyrgos
I SANTORINI BIENNALE OF ARTS 2012, Santorini, Greece, Art Curator Simon Tarrant UK,
I.D EURO SIGNS & ICONS, Pegasus Art Foundation, CY
2013
PREMIER LEAGUE, Art Point , Limassol CY Art curator Raymond Wilson
IV International exhibition of miniature, Majdan Art at The House of Emigrants and Serbs in the region, Belgrade
2014
The IV Biennale of Contemporary Drawing of Serbia at Historical Archive Pancevo, Serbia
Five new and three very young artists curated by Andros Efstathiou, IsNotGallery, Nicosia, CY
Lush Art in Austere Times curated by Andros Efstathiou, IsNotGallry, Nicosia, CY
ULUPUDS Gallery SULUJ, Belgrade
PREMIER LEAGUE curated by Raymond Wilson, Lello's Point, Limassol, CY
XII International Women Painters Cultural Centar Majdanpek ,Serbia,
The Inauguration of the Cultural Center of Strovolos, Nicosia, CY
II SANTORINI BIENNALE OF ARTS 2012 curated by K. Papadopoulos & G. Frangos, Santorini, Greece
42. World Gallery of Drawing, OSTEN BIENNIAL OF DRAWING Skopje 2014, Macedonian Academy of Arts
V International Exhibition Art in miniature MajdanArt 2014, Belgrade
"Limiere de paux",UN, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The Modern Drawing, Galerija SKC, Belgrade, Serbia
50th anniversary of E.KA.TE , Dimotiki Pinakothiki Larnaca, Famagusta Gate – Nicosia, Old Power House, Pafos &
The Evagoras Center, Limassol
Altstadthalle Gallery, Zug, Switzerland
2015
Lush Art in Austere Times, IsNotGallery, Nicosia
Technopolis 20, Pafos exhibition Woman and Art
"Minor Asia" The Byzantine Museum and Art Gallery of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, Nicosia
DRAWING ROOM Rouan Gallery, Limassol
T.I.N.A. Lisbon, Los Angeles & San Paulo, Honorable Mention of the Jury
2016
6th Lessandra, Sofia, Bulgaria
Small Format , House of Djure Jaksica, Belgrade, KC Ivanjica, Jagodina, Zrenjan, V.Plana, S.Pazova,Krusevac and Aleksinac
13th International Biennial of miniature, Cultural Centre Gornji Milanovac, Serbia
2nd FRESH -The Modern Portrait, JanKossen Contemporary gallery New York
44. World Gallery of Drawing, OSTEN BIENNIAL OF DRAWING Skopje 2014, Macedonian Academy of Art
2nd LYNX International Art prize by The Associazione Culturale IL SESTANTE (A.C.I.S.) Trieste (Italy
Lokarjeva galery, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
Horizons, Exhibition of fresh contemporary drawing in Serbia, Great Hall of SKC, Belgrade, Serbia
2017
Sala degli Archi of the New Fortress, Livorno, Italy
CICA Museum, South Korea, 2017, CICA 미술관은 , Czong Institute for Contemporary Art
Social Art Award, Berlin Germany
October Salon, Cvijeta Zuzorić Art Pavilion, Belgrade Serbia
49th GOLDEN PEN OF BELGRADE, THE 14th INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL OF ILLUSTRATION 2017, Gallery Progres, Beograd
Traditional-Modern, SKC Belgrade
The exhibition 'In Honor of epic Cypriot poet Vassilis Michaelidis', curator Nadia Anexegorou, Limassol Municipal Gallery
Horizons, Progress, Belgrade
Salon D 'Automne, En Plo Gallery/The Old Powerhouse, Paphos
2018
Book 'In Honor to Vassilis Michaelidis' by Nadia Anexegorou, Limassol Municipal Gallery
Lush Art In Austere Times, Isnotgallery, Nicosia, curator A.Efstathiou
Salon d'automine, IFC French Institute - Collection Gallery, Nicosia, curated by Michèle Ansermet Papadopoulos
The victim as a cultural expression, 2nd International Interdisciplinary Conference of the ICSAH Foundation,
curators Umberto Mondini and Andros Efstathiou, Cornaro Institute Limassol
Re-writing the Constitution, A seven days workshop and performance, coordinated by Boris Bakal, Ellada Eva,
Maria Kyriakou, and Maria Varnakkidou at Yard Residency 18, Limassol, CY
18th Asian Art Biennial Bangladesh 2018, Shilpakala Academy Dhaka, Bangladesh
Keeping a Secret at Palia Ilektriki, Larnaca, curated by Miriam Mc Connon
Civilian Sensitivities, A workshop by curators Sigal Barkai, Israel and Yiannis Toumazis, NIMAC, Nicosia, CY
1st Larnaca Biennial 2018, Container & Content, curators Vassilis Vassiliades,Tonia Loizou and Michail Elia, Larnaca, Cyprus
A one-day workshop with Eleana Alexandrou during Open House Festival 2018, Dance House, Limassol
2019
Lush Art In Austere Times, Isnotgallery, Nicosia, curator A.Efstathiou
Dubinski crtez (Deep drawing), workshop with Goran Stojčetovic, Remont, Beograd
Memories (20 years from NATO Attack on Serbia) SKC, Belgrade
The exhibition and publication LIKOVNI ATLAS2, Contemporary Serbian Artists,
building of National Bank Serbia, Belgrade. Curated by Slobodan Maldini
Through Machine Eyes at NeMe, Limassol. Curated by James Bridle, Helene Black and Yiannis Colakides
Research, Acting and Dramatization - with Pavlos Kountouriotis
Performance Workshop with Philippos Tsitsopoulos, TEPAK Fine Arts Lab, Dr Andonis Danos
Performance for the video installation “TIME b” by Suzana Phialas
2020
ATLAS of Particles-Are you … (predictable)?, Pavilion CVIJETA ZUZORIĆ, Curated by ULUS Expanded Media Section
2021
UVID 21 ( Insight 21), The Old Kluz Building, Belgrade curator Neda Radoicic, May Exhibition ULUPUDS
Our DNA, curated show Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
“IT NEVER HAPPENED!” The Old Cinema Balkan, Belgrade, curated by ULUS, Department of expanded media
curators Milica Lapčević, Milos Peskir, Dusan Radovanovic, Neda Kovinic
"1821: Collective memories" Limassol Municipal Arts Center- Apothikes Papadaki
DeSiderata curated by Samantha Benedetti and Enea Chersicola, Androna Campo, Trieste, Italy
STATE OF EMERGENCY -The 90th Autumn Exhibition of ULUS Art Pavilion "Cvijeta Zuzorić", Belgrade
Curation Art Council of ULUS with art historians Dr Dejan Sretenović and Dr Jelena Stojanović.
2022
Stories of Intimicy curator Mariza Bargilly, Limassol Municipal Arts Centre, Limassol
The Forest Project by Arboreal Collective at NeMe Arts Centre, Limassol
dig(id)entities reimagined, NFT exhibition, Gallery NO Concept, Belgrade
IDMAA MEDIA ART: WEIRD MEDIA, Curator Patrick Lichty, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, USA
UNRELEASED MATERIALS, 6th International Triennial of expanded media, ULUS Art Pavilion "Cvijeta Zuzorić", Belgrade
"Ode to Earth" at Estação – Associação Cultural,Curated by A. Conte, C. Mateus and J. Queiroz Canelas-Estarreja, Portugal.
“Forest and Life” Geumgang Nature Art Biennale, organized by YATOO, Gongju-si, South Korea
INSTINC D: Art Festival. Physical and Metaverse Gallery curators: Aleksandra Jovanić, Icki and Teng Yen Hui, Singapore
VIDEOAKTION #3,attaque(e)r le visible, curator Lawinia Rate. Raum für drastische Maßnahmen ·Berlin
fu:bar 2k22 screening program GLITCH CINEMA, curator: Ejla KOVAČEVIĆ, Zagreb, Croatia
FIVA SPMAV Leopoldo Gotuzzo Art Museum - MALG, in Pelotas, Brazil
ReA! Art Fair 2022 Curator: Paola Shiamtani. Fabricca Del Vapore, Milan, Italy
TERRA at Espacio Gallery. Curator Judit Prieto. London
Rare Effect led by Arroz Estúdios & Art Progression Now Lisbon, Portugal
Women in Religions: from spiritual leadership to female empowerment, Curator: Prof. Umberto Mondini. Cornaro
Art Institute, Limassol. Part of the 5th International Conference on Arts and Humanities (ICSAH) and the Dante Alighieri Society
of Nicosia in cooperation with the Libera Università Internazionale Degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (Luiss) and the Pontificia Università Salesiana, Italy
POLYPHONIZE Workshop with Grace Schwindt. Curators: Ilina Chervonnaya and Katerina Neofytidou. organized by E.KA.TE. Nicosia
Art Speaks Out, Ikono TV, screening at COP27, The Conference of the Parties (COP), organised by the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Principles. Curator Francesca Canfora. Biennial Technology - Technology is humanity, Polytechnic of Turin, Italy
Internationales Digitalkunst Festival, BW 12 Diakonissenplatz Bunker, Forststraße 28, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
Imagine Futures, Puntomov, Festival de Videoarte de la Facultad de Artes, Autonomous University of Mexico State UAEMEX
Art and Society, Ecology as a Collective Sculpture, The International Performance Art Festival for Ecology and Sustainable Development Cameroon. Artistic Director Raphaël Christian Etongo. Yaoundé, Cameroon
Glitch Art International Online Exhibition - Third Edition, Brazil. Curated by Cleber Gazana
2023
36. Stuttgarter Filmwinter Festival for Expanded Media with the IDKF, Kunstbezirk gallery Stuttgart, Germany
16th Art Laguna Prize Biennale by Associazione Culturale MoCA, Bacini dell'Arsenale Nord, Venezia, Italy
The 5th International Conference on Arts and Humanities (ICSAH) and the Dante Alighieri Society of Nicosia in cooperation with the
Libera Università Internazionale Degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (Luiss) and the Pontificia Università Salesiana, Italy 2023
National Liberty Museum (NLM). Curation, organization of the exhibition and collaboration of the construction and installation of
the 2nd Metanoia machine by Aaron Billheimer, Meegan Coll, Michael Derian and Kelley Stone. Philadephia, USA
Awards, Museums and National Galleries:
2002 Cyprus Republic for the Limassol Municipal Art Gallery has purchased ‘Painting 21’ (Letters home)
2006 State Gallery of Contemporary Cyprus Art has purchased the work ‘Prrrrrr ‘(No Place Like Home)
2013 Historical Archive Pancevo, Serbia. Portrait No.34 (Uninterrupted Stare) become part of the permanent collection of the museum
2014 Honorable Mention of the Jury at IV International Miniature Art, Serbia for ‘Portrait No.20’ (Uninterrupted Stare)
2014 The 1st Prize in Digital Art at XII International Women Painters, Serbia for ‘Portrait No.02’ (Uninterrupted Stare)
2014 OSTEN World Gallery of Drawing, Skoplje – ‘Portrait No.23’ (US) become part of the permanent collection of the museum
2014 Cyprus Republic for the Limassol Municipal Art Gallery has purchased Portrait No.30 (Uninterrupted Stare- Daemons)
2015 T.I.N.A. Lisbon, Los Angeles & San Paulo, Honorable Mention of the Jury
‘Within Love or Sorrow, There Ain't Virgins’ became part of the permanent collection of The Byzantine Museum of Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, Nicosia
2016 1st Prize in Digital Art selected by The Associazione Culturale IL SESTANTE for The LYNX Prize 2016, Trieste, Italy
for the work ‘Nothing compares to you’ Multiverse
2020 The State Gallery of Contemporary Cypriot Art has purchased the work ‘Nothing compares to you’ Multiverse
2021 The Municipal Gallery Limassol has purchased the work (Kokino Kiklo II) Residual Heroines: Manto, Multiverse
2022 The First prize-winning work I'll See You in The Trees at the open call "Ode to Earth" selected by Angella Conte, Cristina Mateus and João Queiroz, Estação – Associação Cultural, Canelas-Estarreja, Portugal
2022 Honorable Mention of the Jury by Pebbles Underground Film and Video Art Festival, Toronto, Canada
2023 Certificate of Achievement by The Pinacothèque Museum Luxembourg Art Prize jury, Luxembourg
Publications:
2004 “Letters Home” by Nina Sumarac
2006 “Antikvarnica Duse” Cover for the Poetry book by Natalija Jakovljevic
2012 “Γυναικα” art catalog , PYRGOS Congress, Nicosia
2012 I.D. EURO multi.cult, art catalogue Pegasus Art Foundation
2014 # 3 issue Straw Dogs magazine issue February 2014 Text by Yiota Panayiotou, pages 52-56
2014 Atlas Of Applied Arts, Artists and Designers Of Serbia - The 21st Century, Maldini, publisher Japan Society
2015 # 5 issue Straw Dogs magazine, 4 illustrations for the poems of Yiorgos Seratons
2016 FRESH! 2016 THE MODERN PORTRAIT catalogue, Jankossen Contemporary New York
2016 Artist catalogue by The Associazione Culturale IL SESTANTE for The LYNX Prize 2016, Trieste, Italy
2017 ArtAscent Magazine, February 2017, Portrait issue, Pages 76 & 77
2017 Social Art Award catalogue, Berlin Germany
2017 7th Premio Combat Prize catalogue, Livorno, Italy
2018 "In the winds of the hidden, Vassilis Michaelides: Visual and poetic extensions" by Dr Natia Anaxagorou, Head of Cultural Services of the Municipality of Limassol and curator of the exhibition in honour of hundred years anniversary of the poet Vasilis Mihailidis, held at the Limassol Municipal Gallery (10/11/2017. – 31/05/2018), and Lefteris Papaleontiou, a university and researcher of Cypriot literature
2021 Exhibition catalogue UVID21 (Insight 21), May Exhibition ULUPUDS
2021 Exhibition catalogue 'Stories of Intimicy' Municipal Gallery Limassol
2021 Exhibition catalogue STATE OF EMERGENCY -The 90th Autumn Exhibition of ULUS
2022 Work presentation and a personal Interview at the Special edition of LandEscape Art magazine, UK
2023 Proceedings of Conference of 5th International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Luiss University or La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
Press:
2004 March 19-25 The Cyprus Weekly “Letters Home” text by Glyn Hughes, page 19;// 2004 March 21 Sunday’s POLITIS, CY “Letters Home” text by Dr Nadia Anaxegorou (linguist MA from Cambridge and a PhD Oxford University. cultural director of the Limassol Municipality), page41;// 2004 July SINTESEIS Magazine, CY, page 158;//2006 by Glyn Hughes The Cyprus weekly, November 24;//.2006 10. November CITY magazine text by Xenia Tsiamanta;// 2006 LIDER Business Magazine Moscow No26 “Sva njena traganja” pages 32-35, text by S.Moskovljevic;// 2006 November TIME OUT Cyprus Magazine text by arte editor Xenia Tsiamanta ;// 2010 March April STIL GIZNI The Russian Magazine in Cyprus, “NINA” pages 75,76;// 2008 March 16, SEVEN Magazine CY text by Anna Hassapi ,pages60&61;// 2008 March Lemesorame, CY ,No27 , “Painting Exhibition By Nina Sumarac”, page 41;// 2008 May Lemesorame, CY ,No29, “Nina Sumarac – one choice to proceed realty “ interview by art editor Simoni, pages54,55;// 2008 March TimeOut Cyprus, No74 text by Xenia Tsiamanta;// 2008 March/April “STIL” Cyprus Russian Magazine text by Tatiana Kasas;// 2012 Oktober NINA ŠUMARAC: NEOMETANO BULJENJE, IZLOŽBA CRTEŽA UGLJENOM at http://www.skc.org.rs/izlozbe/2316-nina;// 2013 February «Uninterrupted Stare» από τη Νίνα Σούμαρακ ,Kathimerini 20.02.2013 14:12 http://www.kathimerini.com.cy/;// 2013 February «Uninterrupted Stare» από τη Νίνα Σουμαρακ 19/02/2013 at http://www.parathyro.com/uninterrupted-stare/;// 2013 March A minute with Nina Sumarac Jablonsky ArtistCyprus Mail Friday, March 22nd 2013;// 2013Jun, STRAW DOGS Magazine, CY 3rd issue, Text by Yiota Panayiotou, pages 52-56 // 1.4.2013.Exhibition UNINTERRUPTED STARE by Nina Sumarac. Rouan Art Gallery at MARIA ECHO INSPIRED LIFE blog// Straw Dogs magazine issue # 4 February 2014//January 2015 HELLO Magazine Serbia//Straw Dogs magazine issue # 5 February 2015 //2015 art Magazin LIKOVNI ZIVOT, Belgrade no 148, page 63// Jun. 10th 2016 Parathyro, Politis Έργα της Σερβοκύπριας ζωγράφου Nina Sumarac στην γκαλερί JanKossen στη Νέα Υόρκη // August 12th 2016 CY Weekly interview with Melissa Hekkers,page 36&37//
Work in film and animation:
from 2001-2013 working as an artist production assistant on numerous 2D animation adverts in production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos/// 2005 working as Production assistant , artist Production assistant / artist in short animation film "ANIMAL BEHEVIOUR" , production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos, Awards:• Animation Honour - Cyprus International Film Festival (March 2006)• Best Animation Film Award - The 29th Short Film Festival, Drama, Greece (September 2006)• Best Animation & Experimental film Award - Cyprus short & documentary film Festival (February 2007),• The Greek Government Quality Awards – nominee - 47th Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece (November 2006),Awarded : Animation Honour - Cyprus International Film Festival (March 2006); Best Animation Film Award - The 29th Short Film Festival, Drama, Greece (September 2006); Best Animation & Experimental film Award - Cyprus short & documentary film Festival (February 2007); The Greek Government Quality Awards – nominee - 47th Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece (November 2006);/// 2005 digital scanning and structuring of pictures in Documentary, stop-frame motion films for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sculpture Symposium Limassol CY, production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos/// 2006 working as artist on coloring in short experimental film "TAXI" - IDEODROME 2006 , production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos/// 2007 acting, sound ,editing and technical support on short experimental film "TRIP TO THE MOON 2" - IDEODROME 2007, production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos/// 2009 working in photoshop; for documentary, experimental, short, stop-frame motion, animation film "10 YEARS OF RIALTO, 2009", production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos/// 2009 frame preparation & research on short experimental film "DRESS QUEST III", Ideodromio 2009, production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos/// 2016 working as production assistant research preparation for animation film La soup, production "TOONACHUNKS" Nicos Synnos, 2016
Teaching at Art Classes from 2005
