ARTIST STATEMENT
Using photographs, found objects, and imagery, I construct a dialogue about how we interpret and repeat our histories. This often takes shape in the exploration of the Great Plains iconography, mythology, and archives. These critiques form around the commodification of our histories and those that are overlooked. Local stories, like Buffalo Wild West Show to the spirits of the Badlands, are rooted in truth but grow legendary to overshadow the grim reality of Midwestern history. These stories become a sense of pride and comfort for the local population, who use iconography to perpetuate colonial ideals such as manifest destiny and the Wild West. The romance and sentimental history of the region conceals casualties, erasure of culture, and environmental loss. My work allows me to express personal narratives while investigating the larger historical and contemporary social and political narratives. I am drawn to the ways these narratives have been shared throughout history: the New Topographics’ urban landscapes, Pop Art’s use of kitsch, the YBA’s indelible critiques using everyday objects, and the Rococo’s subtly evocative stories. The explorations of these works create an advancement in the creative field following the cultural shift of sharing untold histories, inclusivity, and critiquing social and political narratives.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Epiphany Knedler is an interdisciplinary artist + educator exploring the ways we engage with history. She is inspired by the aesthetics and geopolitical landscapes of the Midwest, surveying the storied past of bold exploration and quiet melancholy. She graduated from the University of South Dakota with a BFA in Studio Art and a BA in Political Science and completed her MFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in Photography at East Carolina University. She is based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, serving as an Assistant Professor of Art and Coordinator of the Art Department at Northern State University, a Content Editor with LENSCRATCH, and the co-founder and curator of the art collective Midwest Nice Art. Her work has been exhibited in the New York Times, Vermont Center for Photography, Lenscratch, Dek Unu Arts, and awarded through the Lucie Foundation, F-Stop Magazine, and Photolucida Critical Mass.
© Epiphany Knedler