Overview
Sophy Rickett is a visual artist working with photography, video installation and text. Much of her work has explored the tension between the narrative tendencies and abstract possibilities of the photographic image. Her works have a minimalist quality and create spatial plays and ambiguities that draw attention to the material nature of the photograph, rather than to the receding illusory space behind the picture plane.
'On Being One', curated by Phillip Lindley, brings together works from different series produced over the last 15 years, creating a new constellation of images and text to explore some of her ongoing interests in the new context of Wolfson College’s Combination Room.
From 'Objects in the Field' (2012) and 'The Death of a Beautiful Subject' (2016) to more recent work such as 'There it is, the Soil' (2022), her research process, which combines references to her subjective experience with primary research into specific contexts or environments that relate to archives, the heritage industry or the family archive, emerges as central to the development of her practice.
With landscape and the natural world as a backdrop, photography is evoked as a tool for seeing, processing, navigating and representing the world and its relations.
About the artist
Sophy Rickett (born 1970, UK) studied at the Royal College of Art and is currently a Senior Lecturer at the London College of Communication (UAL). Recent solo and two-person exhibitions include ‘Everything Is A Bird’ (with Bettina von Zwehl), Laure Genillard Gallery, London (2021), ‘Cupid and the Curious Moaning of Kenfig Burrows’, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea (2019), ‘Album 31 and other works’ (with Bettina von Zwehl), Fotogalleriet, Oslo and Library of Birmingham (2015), ‘Objects in the Field’, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford (2014) and Brancolini Grimaldi, London (2013-14) and Arnolfini, Bristol (2012). Recent artist’s books include ‘The Curious Moaning of Kenfig Burrows’ (GOST, 2019) (shortlisted for the 2020 Krazsna Kraus Awards) and ‘The Death of a Beautiful Subject’ (GOST, 2015).
Rickett’s work is included in many collections internationally including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Government Art Collection, London; Centre Pompidou, Paris; FRAC Alsace, Sélestat; Musée des Beaux Art, Nantes; Museum of Visual Arts, Leipzig; and the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaundengo, Turin.
Viewing the exhibition
The exhibition will be open to the public from Sunday 20 October.
Opening Times: Saturdays and Sundays 10.00-17.00, until Sunday 19 January.
Please note that the exhibition is occasionally unavailable, for instance during graduations.
It is advisable to contact the Porters' Lodge in advance of your visit (01223 335900).
Access
This exhibition is on display in the Combination Room on the first floor of our main building. It has step-free access with a lift and there is an accessible toilet located on the first floor of the building.
About Wolfson exhibitions
Wolfson has an established programme of exhibitions and artistic events which take place throughout the year and are framed by its modernist architecture, beautiful landscaped gardens and embedded into academic life.
The art on show is enjoyed by both the academic and wider community. Exhibitions are open to the general public, for students and Fellowship and visited by scholars, guests and visitors from around the world.
Wolfson has an established art exhibitions programme which has showcased the work of both renowned international artists and innovative emerging artists with the aim of stimulating reflection, discussion and debate.
You can find out more about exhibitions at Wolfson on the Arts page.