TheaterWorks Hartford, under the leadership of Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, announces a gallery exhibition featuring work by local artist Denis Semenyaka titled Lies are better. The exhibition is in conjunction with the theater’s production of Fever Dreams (of animals on the verge of extinction) by Jeffrey Lieber. Lies are better. (2024) is a collection of digital photographs that draws upon themes from Jeffrey Lieber’s Fever Dreams (of animals on the verge of extinction). The works in this series are an interpretation of moods, emotions, and dilemmas present throughout the play. Looming landscapes and deep shadows add a sense of scale and unease, causing the viewer to question the environment and their relationship within it. The tensions and mysteries found in the secluded forest are mirrored throughout Fever Dreams. Overall, this series of photos invites the viewer to confront their own feelings of estrangement and escapism, while encouraging a reflection on their own choices and vulnerabilities.

About the Artist:

Denis Semenyaka is a documentary and travel photographer based out of Hartford, Connecticut. His work explores the complexity of the world through candid, compelling images. Driven by a curiosity of nature, cultures and the human experience, Denis aims to capture the beauty in life’s everyday moments. More information can be found on his Instagram Page.

The exhibition is on view from September 26 - November 8, 2024. There will be an opening reception on Wednesday, October 9 from 6-7:15pm. Admission to the gallery is free.