Abby Sohn

sound/video, sculpture, installation art

I am an artist residing in Pen-y-coed-cae, Pontypridd for over three years. Having emigrated from America to live in Wales since November 2002, I have exhibited nationally and internationally in collaborative exhibitions, most recently in Poland. I have also worked internationally as a museum conservator for over 10 years. While working for the National Museum and Galleries of Wales, I have had the privilege to work for the following institutions: St Fagans: National History Museum, National Wool Museum, Big Pit: National Coal Museum and the Maritime & Industrial collection at Nantgarw. These experiences have given me a direct dialogue and valuable insight into the preservation of Welsh history and culture as well as every day objects. Other museums that I have worked for include: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, NYC.

My artwork extends the practice of examining and preserving cultural and social histories. I embark upon an extensive period of research as an integral part of my working process. This research in previous projects has involved both the examination of objects or archival material, and the active engagement with people not necessarily from an art background in order to develop a rigorously examined context for the work to evolve from. My work investigates how the spirit of a memory within an object, person or place transcends into a new existence and attempts to explore links between fine art and ethnography. Materials that I use to produce my work are determined by the nature of my explorations and often make use of photography, video, sound and sculptural installations.

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