Sofia Rudi Kent is a visual media artist and researcher. Her work is a piece of institutional critique, utilising 3D modelling and archival research to investigate the paradigms and archaic conventions of the museum world. She looks to the past to uncover the issues behind the current retention of plundered artefacts and their imperial histories. In particular, she explores the ethics of ownership, as the ghosts of colonialism continue to haunt modernity. The marriage of technology and art motivates her everyday process and practice. Through the use of archives, historical records, and online resources, she uncovers the amnesia of the colonialist cycle that so informed Ireland's past.
This piece focused on one particular artefact: a Burmese Buddha that caught the attention of Sofia, together with Irish literary figure, James Joyce. Using an array of mediums, she scrutinises the history and ethics behind this relic in an attempt to give it posthumous agency.
Poster made by Eimear O'Keane for video piece 'may the peacock have its call and dance', coding used to construct font'.
Still from video piece
Still from video
Installation of video piece
Installation
The title refers to a poem written by Thakin Kodaw Hmaing who is considered one of the greatest Burmese poets. The dancing peacock was strongly associated with anti-colonial nationalist movements
Images discovered in Charles Fitzergald diaries from his campaign in Burma 1886-8
Images discovered in Charles Fitzergald diaries from his campaign in Burma 1886-8
Render of my 3D model I sculpted on ZBrush + MudBox
Time lapse of 3D printing my Buddha model