The upcoming exhibition Baby Blue Benzo by Sara Cwynar will be held at 52 Walker from October 4th to December 22nd, 2024. The show centers around Cwynar’s latest film, Baby Blue Benzo, a large-scale projection shot on both digital video and 16mm, complemented by a series of related photographs. Known for her innovative use of vernacular photography, video, and collage, Cwynar explores the complex relationships between consumer culture, technology, and image-making.
In this new work, she combines newly produced footage with found images from her extensive archive, incorporating surreal sets, elaborate costumes, and a replica of the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. The color baby blue and motifs of car culture serve as central themes, connecting her artistic exploration to broader ideas about luxury, automation, and the pressures of modern life. The film also touches on personal elements, linking the car to benzodiazepines and reflecting on her own struggles with insomnia. Cwynar’s method is a meticulous blend of personal narrative and critical theory, revealing the underlying systems of power that shape both images and our perceptions of them.
Still from Baby Blue Benzo, 2024
