Never being someone who has been lead by the constraints of people or his environment dictating his path, Ben used this opportunity to create a way to still work with a group of his favourite artists around the world while not having to leave his home in the middle of the Australian bush.
Ben Dniprowski - Makeup Artist and OPALUS Beauty Editor
This Project spanned 3 weeks from conception till finality. Artists were to gather objects and trash and have their lighting set up with the given theme ‘Surreal Separation.’ Ben would call them via Instagram video and direct them on how to create the Face Installation on the spot over a 2 hour period with only seeing the objects right before the video call. Then artists would then have to shoot it on someone in quarantine, or themselves... Blind!
Quote from Ben: ‘I had no fucking idea what was going to happen..I spent all this time setting this mammoth project up and then right before the first phone call with Malorie I shit myself! and then shit myself more when I saw what she had for me as I had to come up with it on the spot! I all of a sudden thought,’what if this doesn’t work and I’ve wasted everyones time!?!’
But it did work.. It actually worked so well I shocked myself! As I’m looking at these incredible Face Installations through the screen that look like they were made with my own hands I was becoming filled with elation followed by exhaustion from focusing to intently on the 2 hours of directing.
This has honestly been one of the most rewarding things I have ever been apart of. I am so grateful to every single person who was apart of this and hope they can feel my waves of love and gratitude across the oceans for trusting me to be apart of this project.
Ben: The Face Installer. x
Visual Editing - Ben Dniprowskij
Soundtrack - Tanya Wenczel
Sound Mastered - Mustafa Al Sheikh
MALORIE SHMYR
Location:
Berlin, Germany
Model:
Lindsay
What do you do?
Photographer, Film Maker | Editor-In-Chief of OPALUS Magazine
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Quilling Paper and tape
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
This experience was a full-filling creative treat during a time such as this.
I gathered my objects around the house imagining what Ben would direct me to create, and I knew that there would be no limits to his mind, which is what I love about him.
Since this is not the first time Ben has directed me through video call (way back in September 2019 for a series that will be in the upcoming July issue of OPALUS) I already knew that he was really good at giving direction and that his free spirit would make things fun!
Instagram Handle @MALORIESHMYR
Instagram Handle @varlamov_roman
ROMAN VARLAMOV
Location:
New York City, USA
What do you do?
Photographer | Art Director
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Silver spoons, wire, hooks, pins, shoe lace, eye shadows: Claropsyche, Kryolan Aquacolor
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
I think both of us didn’t have a clue as to what the result would be. The most difficult part was to combine the heavy spoons into one single mask and attaching it onto my face. It was an absolutely new and unforgettable experience. Thank you!!
AKS HUCKLEBERRY
Location:
Hungary
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Visual Artist | Photographer | Film Maker
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Thin twine rope
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
I always feel nervous about new shoots & this one wasn't exceptional in that sense. I woke up in the morning dreading the day ahead of me, but decided to trust the Universe, and Ben, to guide me through this.
Doing make up on a model for a shoot isn't my favourite thing in the world, I much prefer to share this responsibility with a professional MUA. Evidently, Benny hates people's faces and always wants to cover them with some sorta mask or mass and quickly, this became a bit of a personal nightmare for me, where I couldn't see what I was doing and the twine kept irritating my face and wouldn't stick to it properly. :D
Instagram Handle: @planetaks
Yet, we powered through, created our shared masterpiece and said our goodbyes… and I was left to shoot in peace. Except at first, I didn't know what to do with myself. I figured, the only sensible thing to do when you are this uncomfortable, is to share those feelings with the viewer, dramatically enhancing them visually. So I channeled my inner wounded deer, contorting in front of my camera for quite some time, until my achey body told me it was enough. The final images are a manifest to trust - trust in myself to pull through and create a beautiful image, trust in the Universe that everything will work itself out eventually & always, trust in Benny, whose manic energy will always inspire and terrify me a little bit.
Instagram Handle : @laurenmannstylist
LAUREN MANN
Location:
New Zealand
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Fashion Stylist
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Sticky Tape, Polystyrene, Sharpie pens
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
SHIT.. Kidding!!! I work in a tactile manner and Ben is pretty good at telling me what to do, so being instructed over video chat was without a hiccup. This project was the collaborative resuscitation my lockdown creativity needed and though I was apprehensive as to whether I possessed the ability to produce something of par, I am over the full moon in libra with the final piece. This project goes to show just how resourceful and adaptable an artist can be under the guidance of a tyrannical genius with an exceptional idea.
From a couple of phones, semi-strong WIFI, a global pandemic and a pile of trash - comes savoir-faire and straight-up fucking ART.
NARYA ABHIMATA
Location:
Jakarta, Indonesia
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Photographer & Director
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Pom-Poms, feathers, tape and hot glue
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
Fun and messy, but interesting - that part was easy, the way Ben directed was crystal clear even though we had connection problems. The hardest and most frustrating part was to actually shoot myself with the camera - it was then I just realized that Ben covered my whole face including the eyes - Someone should've recorded me attempting to take the shots because I literally kept knocking everything down. In desperation I had to call in my partner to help me push the damn trigger... you really can't survive being quarantined by yourself!
Instagram Handle: @naryaabhimata.studio
Instagram Handle: @tanya_wenczel_does
TANYA WENCZEL
Location:
Southern Highlands NSW , Austalia
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Artist
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Linen, paint and thread
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
Working with Ben always has a level of torture in it.
But if there wasn't a large part of creative magic involved in the process and outcome, I guess I wouldn't come back again and again
ASH HALLIBURTON
Location:
London, UK
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Creative Director
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Vinyl gloves, pearls, and string
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
I really enjoyed it to be honest! I didn't at all expect what you would come up with, I mean, HOW COULD I? YOUR BRAIN IS CRAZY AND AMAZING!
I kept sticking my own fingers to the gloves and spilled the pearls all over my bathroom, whilst having the use of one eye. The most challenging bit was not being able to see, so when a glove finger drooped I just couldn't find it through your description haha! Taking selfies on my phone was a huge challenge since I had no idea if the phone was actually pointed at my face or not, but I love the result! Its dreamy and strange.. a representation of my virgo side as you said.. thank you!
Instagram Handle: @ashkhalliburton
@selfish.studio
Instagram Handle: @ernesto.roman
ERNESTO ROMAN
Location:
The Catskills, New York
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Photographer and Creative Director
What was your Face Installation made out of?
A deconstructed carnival face mask
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
It was exciting to finally collaborate with Ben! I'm usually the one directing the subject, so it was interesting to follow someone else's direction and creative vision. I didn't know exactly what to expect, so the results were completely fresh. The hardest part was to accurately place the pieces on the right place, on the right side as we were coordinating via video chat.
ILAN REUBEN & CLAUDIA COMERCI
Location:
San Francisco, USA
Model:
Ilan Rueben
What do you do?
Artist and Designer
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Fake $100 bills; hot glue
Instagram Handle: @ilanioproject
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
It was a lot of fun and a much needed dose of collaborative creativity during the Coronavirus lockdown. We thought the installation came out great, and were amazed at how quickly Ben could come up with an idea out of random materials, especially at 5am Melbourne time without a flat white in site!
Instagram Handle: @mattbriggsphoto
MATT BRIGGS
Location:
New Castle, Australia
Model:
Matt Briggs
What do you do?
Photographer
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Masking tape and electrical tape.
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
I loved the process; it was great to be closer to Ben's thought process as he was directing the application....
I'm normally setting up lights and the set during this time and only get to see the finished product of the MUA's work. I was alone in my studio so photographing myself was interesting, but awesome as I had no time constraints and could experiment with lighting and movement. I feel the outcome was amazing, I've shot with Ben before and follow his work so I know how creative he is.....I love the final shot, it was pretty dark…
ULRICH HARTMANN
Location:
Berlin, Germany
Model:
Michael Witten
What do you do?
Photographer
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Pomegranate, Yarn, Maple Syrup, and Glucose Candy
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
I felt like a puppet on strings - it was weird in the beginning but great at the end.
Instagram Handle: @ulrichhartmannphotography
Instagram Handle: @alabamablonde
ALABAMA BLONDE
Location:
Los Angeles, USA
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Fashion Designer and Necromancer
What was your Face Installation made out of?
A lace glove, butterfly wings, gaffer tape, double sided tape + thread.
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
I have worked with Ben on many occasions - and I am always flawed by what he brings to set based off of a brief which generally contains only one or two words. Being part of his process was truly an honour. I honestly didn’t really have any expectations, I think I knew whatever he instructed me to create would turn into something of 'deformed beauty’. The way he placed the wings was so precise, and the face I saw staring back at me was a face which only Ben could see & create. It was not a face I had seen before, yet it’s energy, it’s brokenness and sense of hope was quite breathtaking, familiar and otherworldly. What surprised me the most was how when putting on the mask, & stepping in front of the camera to photograph myself, the mask seemed to expose a vulnerable and broken, yet unapologetic and brave side of me. I have missed these sides of myself... and it was very powerful to evoke and awaken them. Thank you Ben!
PETER WARRICK
Location:
Richmond upon Thames, UK
Model:
Self Portrait
What do you do?
Photographer
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Sellotape and flowers.
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
Delightful and something I will not forget in a hurry!
Instagram Handle: @peterwarrickphotographer
Instagram Handle: @tombrandon
TOM BRANDON
Location:
Northcote, Australia at @tamale_studios
Model:
Ali Rae @madamalirae
What do you do?
Photographer, Bullet Time Photographer, Studio Owner
What was your Face Installation made out of?
Fly Screen, Gauze, Contact Paper and Hot Glue
What was your experience being directed by Ben to create a Face Installation via Instagram video:
Ben and I have collaborated on a number of shoots, so it was very comfortable to be directed by him. I probably should have figured out a better way to show him what I was building as I kept getting sunlight in my eyes! I’m super happy with the result, a real nice blend of our different styles.