SOPHIE PENKETHMAN-YOUNG
”BOLÉRO: A TAIL OF TECH SUPPORT”
21 JANUARY – 19 FEBRUARY

Sophie-Penkethman Young, 2020, Boléro: A Tail of Tech Support, Photography by Zan Wimberley.

ARTIST STATEMENT

“It didn’t work out as I had hoped”

Marcel Ravel commenting on a performance of his work Boléro.

“Boléro: A Tail of Tech Support”, 2021 is an alternate near-reality created from lights, chatbots and skate ramps. Working your way from lowly customer service rep all the way up to management, enjoy the mundanity of giving and receiving scripted support with no end in sight. Positive words help to frame affirmative phrases that can create magic. Non-affirmative words should be avoided during conversations, at all costs...

Sophie Penkethman-Young’s, “Boléro: A Tail of Tech Support” is a journey to nowhere, destined to end in chaos. Like its name-sake, let’s hope it works!

Roomsheet

BIOGRAPHY

Sophie Penkethman-Young is a Sydney-based artist and digital producer. Sophie is interested in how ideas and experiences translate digitally, how humanness could be described and how could it be uploaded to the cloud? Sophie’s works have been included in exhibitions across Australia, Hong Kong, USA, Europe and the UK. She has been a finalist in several prizes including The Churchie National Emerging Art Prize, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane (2018) and the Fisher's Ghost Art Award Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney (2017). Sophie currently works as a Digital Programming Associate at Sydney Opera House. She gained a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Australian National University School of Art & Design in 2013 and completed her Honours at The Sydney College of Arts, University of Sydney in 2014. She is currently completing a Master of Art Curating at the University of Sydney focusing on digital museum culture and internet-based practice. Sophie held the 2019-2020 board position of Digital Manager of Runway Journal.

Sophie has made videos for Performance Space, FBi Radio, Remote Control Records and Fashion Label, Lee Matthews. Sophie has worked collaboratively with dancer and artist Amrita Hepi on The Ropes (2019) and A Caltex Spectrum (2018). In 2016 Sophie worked with Amrita Hepi and Jahra Wasasala on Passing which was presented in association with Darebin Arts and Next Wave Festival. Sophie regularly creates live visuals for events including Hannah Bronte’s Fempress (Liveworks Sydney 2018). Sophie works with DJ and producer Andy Garvey on record label and FBi Radio show Pure Space.

Sophie-Penkethman Young, 2020, Boléro: A Tail of Tech Support, Photography by Zan Wimberley.

Sophie-Penkethman Young, 2020, Boléro: A Tail of Tech Support, Photography by Zan Wimberley.

PODCAST

“When [people] look at my practice, in general, I would like them to be entertained and a little bit concerned, because I think that we should all be a little bit concerned…”

Sophie Penkethman-Young