Tsar Fedorsky

Tsar Fedorsky

Fellow: Awarded 2018
Field of Study: Photography

Competition: US & Canada

Tsar Fedorsky is a photographer whose work has been exhibited nationally and published worldwide. She was awarded an Artist Fellowship Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2015, and was a Critical Mass Finalist in 2015 and 2017. Her first book The Light Under the Door was published in August 2017 by Peperoni Books. Work from this series has been included in the Photographic Resource Center Exposure 2016 group show, the Garner Center at New England School of Photography, the Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography’s online “NEW DIRECTIONS” gallery, and the Eli Marsh Gallery at Amherst College. Tsar continues to work on personal narrative projects, including her most recent series long way home. The artist earned a M.F.A. from the Hartford Art School where she was the first recipient of the Mary Frey Photo Book Award and a B.A. in history from Amherst College.

 

Artist Statements:

The Light Under the Door

I’ve always wanted to travel and hoped that photography would take me far away. I also understood that some of the most powerful work comes from artists who can observe what they know best – their home and immediate surroundings. But an honest gaze at my own situation seemed like a risk. While comfortable at home, I yearn to experience the broader world. At times, I feel lonely and isolated, and seek solace in art, literature, and in my imagination. The black and white photographs in this series move beyond realism toward abstraction, linking concrete objects to imaginary ones. The light represents my desire to break free from the shadows I find myself in. Questions arise:  Am I happy in my relationship? And what constitutes true happiness? Have I become complacent? Do I have enough time left in my life to reinvent myself? Given that our time on earth is limited, what do I want to do here? This work contemplates the fear of the unknown. It’s about finding the courage to break through and follow the light.

long way home

Sometimes I feel like a ghost, wandering endlessly. I feel apprehensive about my life and restless about my future. I often dream about life’s possibilities. My daily routine is punctuated with walks in the neighboring woods accompanied by my dog. We cover the same territory, paths and bushes. The dog seems to relish each moment, grounded in the present. My mind, however, is preoccupied by the past, the future or by people who aren’t with me. Then suddenly, I’ll detect a slight variation in the light. It might present itself as a shadow on a familiar tree branch or as a glimmer of light on the surface of a quarry. I am struck by the beauty of my immediate surroundings and become lost in the moment. This series attempts to give visual form to these emotional states. Focusing on the ephemeral, I am reminded of the elusive qualities of light, and life. Suspended between the past and present, I think about the choices I have made and contemplate the future.

Tsar Fedorsky on Instagram

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