For institutions, universities & research bodies
Commission
Sonia works closely with science festivals, environmental organisations, university research groups and public galleries to develop site-responsive installation, sculpture and print — works that take a research question seriously and translate it into a spatial encounter for a public.
Selected institutional history
2015
Tate Pier Arts Centre, Scotland
(p)Reserve — included in the Elements group exhibition. Mixed-media installation of enamel-on-print, burnt textile and perspex held in a found archival box.
2015
AHRC Commons, University of York
The Aggregate Accessory — presented at the Arts & Humanities Research Council Commons event. A sculpture-and-video response to homologous-gene research between humans and the algae Chlamydomonas.
2014
University of Edinburgh — Evolutionary Biology Department
Ongoing collaborative work: petri-dish preparation and respiration data sets used in o0o and Inhale : Exhale. The Department has provided both biological material and scientific consultation.
2014
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
Inhale : Exhale — three-part installation commissioned for a carbon-themed group show, combining a participatory cocktail, a wall of inoculated petri dishes and an algae-alphabet projection.
Archive
University of Edinburgh Library — Heritage Collections
Physical works archived under reference Coll-1985 alongside the artist's working papers and process documentation.
How a commission works
01
Research conversation
An initial conversation with the commissioning institution, research group or curator to map the question the work would sit alongside — and to identify the scientists, archives or material conditions that might inform it.
02
Proposal & scope
A written proposal outlining the conceptual brief, material approach, fabrication and installation plan, budget bands and a realistic timeline. Suitable for board sign-off and for funding applications (AHRC, Creative Scotland, Wellcome and similar).
03
Development & fabrication
Studio development is documented throughout. Where appropriate, the studio works directly with named scientific collaborators and with university or museum technical staff.
04
Installation, public programme & archive
On-site installation, with an optional artist talk, walkthrough or participatory event. A documentation package — wide installation photography, detail shots and a written piece — is delivered as part of every commission.
Enquire
If you are working on a programme, an exhibition or a research output where a serious, research-led artist practice would be useful — please get in touch.