Wend Lear

"Blind Spot"
Lear's 2010 exhibition for Hill Smith Gallery of dramatic colour street photography addresses the sense of isolation that she witnesses among people of developed countries, compared to the strong sense of community in the developing and conflict nations that she photographs.
2010

Project Description: Blind Spot
"I think the oddest thing about the advanced people is that, while they are always talking about things as problems, they have hardly any notion of what a real problem is."
G.K.Chesterton

"I am acutely aware upon return from photographing in developing or conflict countries of the indifference given by Australians to living in a fortunate and peaceful country. Australians, in the broad sense, have very little to complain about. Trivialities of life become major obstacles, material wealth becomes an all consuming endless priority and the plight of others in conflict or poverty as easily dismissible as a press of a button. As Australians, we are so busy within our minds that we fail to look past our perceived problems and into the simplicity granted by our geographic freedom.

Comparatively, palestinians, despite the daily claustrophobia of occupation, have a wonderful ability for remaining positive in an otherwise hopeless set of circumstances. By the very nature of the situation they have a greater capacity for empathy and can address new information from this viewpoint. In a fluxing environment they take very little fro granted.

On the simplest level this series of street scenes aim to reframe daily experience into a simple calm moment of appreciation for the moment that it holds. An awareness that will travel with the viewer into the following day, transforming from a stagnant remembered image to an event of movement and colour that they play a role within, granting a new appreciation and chil-like wonder - the humanity among the concrete, the peace among the hustle and bustle, the fortunate among the forgotten, the excitement and the colour.

On a more complex level the images point to the negativity of individualistic thinking - walking in a faceless world, self imposed isolation and a pursuit of happiness through false materialistic gods. it aims to evoke those born geographically fortunate to be aware of their limited thinking and addresses the broader global community and the necessity of their role within it."
WEND LEAR 2010

EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Visual Communication, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

 AWARDS
2010                        
Magnum Photo Agency, 5 day intensive workshop with Trent Parke, Foto Freo.                    
World wide application, accepted on folio submission.
2005                        
Established TiLPA (Timor Leste Photographers Association), East Timor
2003                        
Bronze Award at Adelaide Art Directors Club, Australia.
2002                        
Fuji ACMP Australian Photographers Collection 8, Australia. Two images accepted.
2001                        
Silver and Bronze Awards, State and National AIPP Awards.
2000                        
Silver Awards, State and National AIPP Awards.
1999                        
Silver and Bronze Awards, State and National AIPP Awards.
1998                        
Silver and Bronze Awards, State AIPP Awards.
1997
Finalist Youth Yellowglen Photographic National Competition, Australia.

 
SOLO EXHIBITION
2009                        
Solo show, doc[u]mentaries; The Palestine Story, Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, Adelaide, Australia

 SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008                        
Group Show, Punters, Grace Emily, Adelaide, Australia
2007                        
Group show, Scotch College Fine Art exhibition, Adelaide, Australia
Group show ‘Whats up your sleeve’, Electric Light, Adelaide, Australia
2006                        
Group show ‘Broken Window Theory’, Bus Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.
2005                        
Group show ‘Recycled’, Arterial Gallery, Adelaide, Australia.
2003                        
The Fuji ACMP Australian Photographers Collection 8, National traveling exhibition,  Australia.
One of 20 leading Australian photographers invited to contribute to “Seeing Music” for the Melbourne Institute of Chamber Orchestra, International Music Competition, Australia.
                     
BOOKS
The Fuji ACMP Australian Photographers Collection 8

PUBLISHED
Australian Creative
The Australian Magazine
The Australian Financial Review
The Australian Financial Review Magazine
The Bulletin
Curve Magazine (Australia)
Dumbo feather, pass it on.
Entropy
Frankie
The West Australian Magazine

TEACHING
1998-current             Freelance Professional Photographer
2007-current            
Tutor, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Self funded. 6 months living and documenting Palestine.
3 months photography workshop for children in the Jenin refugee camp  Palestine.
2006                         
Photojournalist Mentor/Consultant (1 month) Internews, Nigeria
2003–‘05                       
Photojournalist Mentor/Consultant (total of 12 mths), Internews, East Timor
1999-’03                        
Lecturer/Tutor. University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia