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Sian Bonnell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sian Bonnell
Born1956 (age 68–69)
Alma mater
Known forPhotography
AwardsHonorary Fellowship, Royal Photographic Society
Websitewww.sianbonnell.com

Sian Bonnell (born 1956)[1] is a British photographic artist. Her work is held in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Early life and education

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Bonnell was born in London.[1] She received a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Sculpture from Chelsea School of Art (1978–81); an MA in Fine Art from Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic (1983–85); and a PhD by published work from Manchester Metropolitan University (2012–13).[2]

Work

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Bonnell's practice has developed significantly over thirty years. Initially her practice was such that she "places ordinary household objects in the outdoors and, therefore, out of context. She then photographs these sculptural installations, producing imagery that is at once humorous and thought-provoking."[3] Since then, "Bonnell's approach has developed into something she describes as 'Wilful Amateurism', which involves the fusing of sculpture and performance into something photographic."[1]

Publications

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  • When the Domestic Meets the Wild. 2001. With an essay by Iain Biggs. Exhibition catalogue.
  • From an Elsewhere Unknown. Cardiff: Ffotogallery; London: Hirschl Contemporary Art, 2004. With essays by Mark Haworth-Booth and Mel Gooding. ISBN 978-1-872771-51-9.
  • Everyday Dada. Stockport: Dewi Lewis, 2006. ISBN 978-1904587316.
  • Wilful Amateur. Plymouth: Neverdone, 2025. With essays by Aliki Braine, Bonnell, Duncan Woolridge and a transcript of Bonnell in conversation with Susan Bright. Edition of 500 copies.

Exhibitions

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Group exhibitions

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Exhibitions curated by Bonnell

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Awards

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Collections

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Bonnell's work is held in the following permanent collections:

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Camera IV: Manners I", Victoria and Albert Museum, 2011, retrieved 2025-05-18
  2. ^ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ceff9ddcb3a8400011e6f78/t/679f97c8d8283d6d70ceeb59/1738512328730/Sian_Bonnell_CV_Full_Feb_2025_converted.pdf
  3. ^ "Beach Clean", Victoria and Albert Museum, 1999, retrieved 2025-05-19
  4. ^ Clark, Robert (2000-06-21). "Ironic over erotic". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  5. ^ "Seeing The Light". The New Art Gallery Walsall. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  6. ^ Wroe, Nicholas (2022-01-24). "'Wisdom and incredible strength': the exhibition showing the lives built by Holocaust survivors". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  7. ^ https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/piapeterson/photos-holocaust-survivors-lives
  8. ^ Thompson, Jessie (2021-08-04). "The making of a portrait of a Holocaust survivor". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  9. ^ "Bonnell, S., 2011 - Elusive – Manchester School of Art". www.art.mmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  10. ^ "'...on making' Exhibition in Gdansk Gallery of Photography, National Museum Gdansk, Poland". Manchester Metropolitan University. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  11. ^ "Honorary Fellowship". rps.org. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  12. ^ "Sian Bonnell". Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  13. ^ "Search Results". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
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