Sacred Land – Scarred Land
Keyah hodiyin – Keyah ba’at’e’go Haz’a’’
(Navajo language meaning Sacred Land – Scarred Land)
Altered Landscape
Stefan’s unique mixed media artwork tells the visual story of an underrepresented and vulnerable minority that suffered for nearly eight decades from a hazardous environment and increased cancer rates due to a lack of information, financial and legal support, and health protection from the invisible threat of uranium and radiation. Stefan’s artwork is also a reference to the invisible threat of radioactivity. His aerial work of uranium disposal sites across the Navajo Nation raise awareness of the sorrow, grief, and anger that economic greed and uranium mining have brought to the people of this remote part of the United States. Cut out fine art prints use bright colors to highlight the danger. They glow under UV light.
Title: Invisible Threat X. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Mexican Hat, UT.
Title: Invisible Threat X. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Mexican Hat, UT.
Title: Invisible Threat XI. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Glows under UV light. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Shiprock, NM..
Title: Invisible Threat XI. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Glows under UV light. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Shiprock, NM..
Title: Invisible Threat XII. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Homestake, NM.
Title: Invisible Threat XII. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Homestake, NM.
Title: Invisible Threat XIII. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Tuba City, AZ.
Title: Invisible Threat XIII. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Tuba City, AZ.
Title: Invisible Threat XIV. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Ambrosia Lake, NM.
Title: Invisible Threat XIV. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, transparent film, colored paper. Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Ambrosia Lake, NM.
Title: Invisible Threat XV. Medium: Mixed media, layered artwork, archival fine art print, black Musou paper (absorbing 99.4% of visible light). Dimensions: 8" x 10". Frame: 11" x 14" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2024. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series. Location: Ambrosia Lake, NM.
Invisible Threat
Stefan uses visual effects, such as smoke or light painting, to illustrate that there’s more than the human eye can see – not to push the boundaries of photography or to make my photography look more interesting. These effects are symbols for the invisible threat. Radioactivity from abandoned uranium mines and contaminated groundwater are omnipresent near Navajo settlements. The light painting in the picturesque landscape of Monument Valley looks displaced, disturbing. It’s very likely that viewers of Stefan's photographs have seen these magnificent rock formations before from travel photographers capturing the beauty. Now, his images force them to stop and rethink. The pictures are ambiguous. Without context they aren’t easily comprehensible. 3D accordions (folded lenticular fine art prints) show two sides, the good and the bad, the sacred land and the scarred land.
Title: Invisible Threat I. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 16” x 22”. Frame: 23.5" x 29.5" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat I. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 16” x 22”. Frame: 23.5" x 29.5" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat I. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 16” x 22”. Frame: 23.5" x 29.5" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat II. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 16” x 22”. Frame: 23.5" x 29.5" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat II. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 16” x 22”. Frame: 23.5" x 29.5" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat II. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 16” x 22”. Frame: 23.5" x 29.5" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat I. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat I. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat I. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat II. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat II. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat II. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat III. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat III. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat III. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat IV. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat IV. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat IV. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat V. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat V. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Title: Invisible Threat V. Limited edition. Medium: 3D accordion. Archival pigment print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 8” x 10”. Frame: 12" x 15" x 1.5". Year Completed: 2023. Description: Part of the Sacred Land - Scarred Land series.
Additional project details are available on the Artist Statement page. The Sacred Land - Scarred Land project page provides historical context, maps and information about uranium disposal sites for Monument Valley travelers. Select project artwork, such as the 3D accordions, are available as limited editions for purchase in the Store.
