Sonia Dudnicova

My work explores the tension between what is seen and what is hidden. On the surface, each piece appears monochrome , minimal and silent. Yet within the depth of the material lies color, a concealed essence that can only be revealed through light, shadow, and perspective.

I build in three dimensions using screws, each one placed individually, creating both weight and rhythm. From afar, the works appear calm and uniform; up close, they unfold into shifting volumes where the inner color begins to speak. It is a metaphor for identity: how individuality and truth remain inside, only visible to those who take the time to look closer.

This duality — heaviness disguised as lightness, simplicity carrying hidden complexity — defines all of my art. The works are not static objects but living forms, changing with every angle and every moment of light. They embody my vision of silence, depth, and the unseen soul within structure.

My journey as a self-taught artist began unexpectedly during the lockdown. Looking to create something for my own space, I stumbled upon a piece of screw art on Pinterest. I was struck by the realization that such a rigid, industrial material could be transformed into art. What started as an intuitive experiment for myself and close friends quickly evolved into a dedicated practice.
As I worked with volume, I realized that painting over a meticulously crafted 3D structure felt like erasing the hard work of building depth. Volume exists on its own terms—it needs no surface pigment to speak. This led me to embrace a monochrome, white-on-white palette to cultivate a state of visual silence. Stripping the exterior of color forces the viewer to experience form in its purest state, guided only by light and shadow.
While "screw art" exists as a medium, I needed to infuse it with my own core. I developed my signature technique by painting only the stems of the screws, concealing color within the structure itself. Beneath the motionless white surface lies a quiet, radiant glow—the piece keeps its soul inside.
My work is an invitation to pause. Just as in life, to see what is truly meaningful, you have to step closer and look within.