From Tuesday 17th August to Sunday 29th August 2010

Signal Arts Centre is pleased to present this first solo exhibition by ex staff member Sonia Haccius. Sonia graduated with an MA in Set Design from the Slade School of Fine Art in London in 1998, where she studied under Philip Prowse of the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. Since then she has worked as a professional set designer for theatre and television. She developed an interest in creating artworks outside of theatre, although still influenced by it. She has participated in several Meitheal group shows at Signal, and was invited to exhibit in EXTR*acts in 2007, an exhibition of Irish set design curated by Joe Vanek.

In contrast to her work in Set Design, Sonia is interested in creating sculpture that does not originate with the text of a play, and where the visual image creates, rather than supports, a story. Though these sculptures do not originate from an outside text, nevertheless they are strongly influenced by theatre; each one is a scene, which tells a story. The sculptures use elements from theatre and set design- puppets and scale models, a world in miniature.

She is interested in the exaggerated comic expression of Commedia del Arte, which is reflected in her use of puppets, and most of the scenes have a wry sense of humour to them. Puppets in themselves have associations with playfulness, fun and exaggerated cartoon movement, yet there can also be something slightly scary about them. The figures in these sculptures are positioned into scenes, but the fact that their arms and legs are obviously movable, means that the stories could change and become dynamic.

In theatre, the story and text inspire the visual images of the production; but the creative process goes both ways - a visual image can also inspire a story.

Opening Reception: Friday 20th August 7-9pm