Sophie Gresswell is a multi-disciplinary artist exploring identity, belonging and interconnected heritage. Life transcends our individual lifespan and we connect over continents, through generations, between cultures and along a shared history. Her work aims to remind us of these connections, greatly influenced by her mixed British, Saint Helenian and South African heritage.
Saint Helena 2023
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Sophie Travelled with her mother; June Essex, on residency to Saint Helena to find Saint roots and explore the unique British/Saint identity. Deeply tied to history of the British Empire; The East India Company, exile of Prince Dinizulu and the mass burial of over 8000 'Liberated' Africans from the Transatlantic slave trade. The residency cemented a need to explore mixed heritage and raise more awareness of St Helena Heritage....Napoleon was not the only one.
Shenzhen, china 2013
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In 2013 Sophie travelled to Hong Kong and then onto Shenzhen, China where she took up an artist residency at Da Wang Cultural Highland, whilst there she also visited Jingdezhen. Here she explored the shift and balance between Chinese cultural tradition and mass consumerism. The paintings made observe the impact on human interaction.
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