TRANSLUCENT INTERACTIONS

Photomedia artist Bernadette Smith presents Translucent Interactions, an exhibition that examines the phenomenon of water and glass refractions, by recording the scattering and polarization of light passing through translucent spaces.

“Counteracting a dominant anthropocentric view of the universe, my photomedia series explores the viscerality of light to emphasise non-human agency. I photographed light waves interacting within heritage glass and different states of water at close range. Initially, I focused on patterns of water in various forms before discovering an aurora-like display within my 19th Century studio window pane at the former Callan Park asylum. By day I would look through this open window, surveying glimpses of trees and boats on the far shore. Then one afternoon I returned when it was shut and noticed how slanted sunlight penetrated the undulating glass.

The fading sunlight was partially obscured by nearby branches, swaying in the wind, making the window pane flicker between light and shadow. In this liminal zone of uncertainty, starry trails punctured the darkness as light bounced around the textured glass, transforming itself in a process of disintegration. Entranced by this visual drama happening before my eyes as the sun dipped towards the horizon, I reached for my camera to record these fleeting light diffractions. These miniature light patterns, happening regardless of whether humans are there to witness it, illustrate the interconnectedness of the visible and invisible world.”

- Bernadette Smith

Translucent Interactions presents a selection of these recorded light traces as limited edition digital prints on both archival paper and dye sublimated aluminium shapes, custom printed by award winning Print 2 Metal studio in Melbourne.

Bernadette Smith is a Sydney based contemporary artist using photomedia to explore the optical phenomenon of water and glass refractions. Emphasising the non-human world, these phenomena are recorded through macro photography and transposed to different media such as paper and metal objects. Most recently her work was selected for Eden Unearthed 2018-2019 an exhibition of artworks at Eden Gardens Sydney, New Artists at Linton and Kay Gallery in Perth, Sunstudio Emerging Photographers Prize, Art on the Greenway, Electrofringe Festival, Harbour Sculpture Prize, Fishers Ghost Art Award and SCA Showcase at Verge Gallery, University of Sydney. She is currently completing Higher Degree by Research studies at Sydney College of the Arts and her upcoming graduation exhibition at Sydney College of the Arts opens in September 2019.

Please join us for opening night of D/O.33 Translucent Interactions on Thursday August 15th from 6-8pm and enjoy a glass of wine from Milldale Wines.

Translucent Interactions will be available to preview on August 14th from 12-6pm and will run through August 31st at Disorder Gallery.

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