amateur category
Invisible Artifacts (Series)
DESCRIPTION
Invisible Artifacts captures the traces of human existence in transitional spaces, specifically, construction sites in the UAE where the landscape is rapidly evolving because of human intervention as well as natural forces. Sunbaked and buried in sand are treasure-troves of discarded objects that are clues to the people who left them there. Invisible Artifacts documents one such site and its objects, the future home to a five-star hotel.
By capturing the objects with a white background, advertising-style, they transcend utility and become an abstraction, a shape, a color, a series of lines, a form to be admired. Viewed separately they are objet d’art. Viewed collectively, the images create a narrative, inviting the viewer to imagine the possibilities of how the objects came to be and to whom did they once belong. Whereby, making visible the busloads of workers who come and go throughout the day and night and giving these objects value.
Invisible Artifacts asks viewers to contemplate their own role in the evolving urban landscape. How are we defined by that which we discard? How do we make visible what is invisible and must be seen?
AUTHOR
Wendy Bednarz – Writer/Director, Photographer, Arts Professor, New York University Abu Dhabi
Wendy Bednarz’s career began in NYC’s fashion industry, working for Stephen Sprouse in the old Andy Warhol Factory. There she developed a taste for the off-beat and a love of both still and moving images. These early downtown days segued into a career as a filmmaker, photographer and an educator.
Wendy’s work engages multicultural narratives, screening at venues worldwide including NY MoMA, Montreal World Film Festival and Venice Film Festival, garnering awards such as Cine Golden Eagle and Independent Film Award.
Wendy’s wrote/directed the featurette documentary ‘Burning Money’ (2018) and several narrative shorts including ‘Leaving Gussie’(2007), ‘On Crystal’ (2010) and ‘Aurora’ (2000) – winner ShortFest. Her video installation, ‘Human (de)Value, was exhibited at the Nomad Gallery, Dubai (2020).
Wendy’s photography is exhibited internationally. Her solo show Palimpsest Series Project Space, AD (2019), Drawing Room, Singapore (2013) and ARTifice Traces, ReSignifications, Palermo, Italy (2018).
Wendy initiated Syrian Children’s Storybook (2019), traveling to Turkey where she worked with refugees to write/illustrate their own stories.
Wendy Bednarz’s career began in NYC’s fashion industry, working for Stephen Sprouse in the old Andy Warhol Factory. There she developed a taste for the off-beat and a love of both still and moving images. These early downtown days segued into a career as a filmmaker, photographer and an educator.
Wendy’s work engages multicultural narratives, screening at venues worldwide including NY MoMA, Montreal World Film Festival and Venice Film Festival, garnering awards such as Cine Golden Eagle and Independent Film Award.
Wendy’s wrote/directed the featurette documentary ‘Burning Money’ (2018) and several narrative shorts including ‘Leaving Gussie’(2007), ‘On Crystal’ (2010) and ‘Aurora’ (2000) – winner ShortFest. Her video installation, ‘Human (de)Value, was exhibited at the Nomad Gallery, Dubai (2020).
Wendy’s photography is exhibited internationally. Her solo show Palimpsest Series Project Space, AD (2019), Drawing Room, Singapore (2013) and ARTifice Traces, ReSignifications, Palermo, Italy (2018).
Wendy initiated Syrian Children’s Storybook (2019), traveling to Turkey where she worked with refugees to write/illustrate their own stories.
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