Beyond the wonders of the physical space, the stone staircase, or Skalinada, is a portal that cuts across time and space linking diverse paths, stories and spaces travelled. A portal of inspiration that stands on a solid rock upon the silent sea – where imagination can access new heights and discover new depths. This piece of land is special, reflecting the classic simplicity of the seaside town, while adding to it a contemporary vibe which promises to stir the creative spirit.
A classical Mediterranean and minimalist space, designed to embrace established visual artists, far and near, to practice art – without distraction from the roving world. We hope to provide the artist a period of rest, recreation and reflection – inspired by varied aspects of life – from the waves to the stone, from past to present. Mostly, we are looking ahead with our combined paths. The vision for this new artistic initiative is simple – to nurture individual creativity and infuse it with our collective artistic production, with the gusto to explore and express. To give back to the quiet seaside community of Omišalj so it thrives on the ebb and flow of our shared lives.
SKALINADA was founded in july 2017 and is a self-funded artist-in-residence programme that offers a free space to the artist, to live and work. In a sweet exchange for their stay, we request for the artists to leave behind a trace of their time at the house. Typically this may come in the form of a site-specific piece that will find a permanent home inside the house. The future for Skalinada – to house a unique art collection that reflects the various artists-in-residence who have spent time with us, a house curated with contemporary visual art illustrating potent minds, embalmed with the glitter of imagination. After an artist completes the residency programme, we will open the house as an gallery so the artist can exhibit and share his or her works for that specified period of time.
Highly regarded for her active contribution to the local contemporary and urban arts scene for the past 15 years, Piera has collaborated with many artists and collectives working in the area of visual arts and culture. Piera is proud to be part of Kino Siska’s pioneer team, and has worked at the Centre for urban culture as an Artistic Programme Manager for almost 10 years. With the support of a dynamic team at Kino Siska, Piera revitalised the local arts through exciting projects and ideas. She also initiated many new concepts – like DobraVaga Gallery, which quickly became one of Ljubljana’s most esteemed spaces for local art and conversation. She is now working for her own private initiative RAVNIKAR GALLERY SPACE, and is also active with projects such as MENT Ljubljana, limited edit111ons and independent platform new york city. Piera holds an MA in Modern History from the University of London and EU diploma in Cultural Management Marcel Hicter, Brussels.
Tina Konec (1992) graduated in painting at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, under Professor Zmago Lenárdič, where she is currently finishing her postgraduate studies under the mentorship of Tugo Šušnik. She actively exhibits at home and abroad. She has held independent exhibitions at Kvartirna hiša (2018) in Celje, the City Gallery Fonticus (2018) in Croatia, the Layer House (2017) in Kranj, as well as at the Bežigrad Gallery 1 (2017), the DobraVaga Gallery (2017) and the Ravnikar Gallery Space (2018, 2019). In 2018, she received the highest possible prize – the Grand Prix of the 53rd International Painting Ex-tempore in Piran for her work Crystallisation in the ink wash technique on paper.
Helena Tahir (1992) works in painting, drawing, photography and graphic art. For the latter, she received this year’s May Saloon award for the best young graphic artist. She is a postgraduate student in the painting programme at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana, where in 2015 she also graduated with distinction in painting and graphic arts. In recent years she was an exchange student at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Porto, Portugal, and at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig, Germany. She has participated in several solo and group exhibitions at home and in international cultural environments, such as the Transformation of Image in the Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb, SlovenIndia in the National Modern Art Gallery, New Delhi, India, Zum Zoom Zoum in the GapGap Gallery, Leipzig, Papirologija in the Equrna Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia, VI Biennial of Slovenian Independent Illustration in Kino Siska, Ljubljana, Slovenia, and also her solo exhibition In the Whirl in the Božidar Jakac Gallery, Kostanjevica na Krki, Slovenia, and the first group exhibition Something Ending, Something Beginning in Ravnikar Gallery Space, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Skalinada house was designed by architects Aleš Žnidaršič and Katja Žlajpah from the Multiplan Studio based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. While performing the architectural fulfillment of an empty space they always take into consideration the values of the past, homage to environment as well as modern architectural views. Clear idea, simple and comprehensible forms, indubitable structures are their leading principles. The focus of their practice is to work interdisciplinary involving different profiles of collaborators, trying to stay in constant relation between present reality and its local identity. The bureau’s work is present in their homeland Slovenia as well as abroad. They draw attention especially through many national and international prizes they have achieved with their projects answering to different calls of tenders.
