Cynthia Sah:
We are all connected
Cynthia Sah in her studio
Cynthia Sah was born in Hong Kong and studied in the USA. She first came to Italy in 1978 to study and came back soon after to learn with the artisans. She has stayed ever since and now works in a studio complex with her partner, Nicolas Bertoux.
Inspired by the form, movement and colours that nature gives us, Cynthia tells how she always looks for the spine in a piece. She loves how the energy of a wave – of water, sound or wind – reminds her that we are all connected.
Cynthia Sah, Fern, 2019
Cynthia Sah, Stingray, 2020
Cynthia Sah, Wave, 2020
Gallery spaces being altogether different to her studio environment, Cynthia prefers to settle her pieces into their new home personally. But lockdown entailed her having to learn to curate a show long-distance this year. Here she describes the process.
Cynthia Sah, Balance & Counterbalance, 2000, arabescato white marble, 2 × 7 × 2 m, Taipei, Taiwan
Cynthia creates public art for all over the world. She talks about a special commission she did for a grieving daughter in memory of her father, called Balance & Counterbalance.
Underpinning her public art is the idea that sculptures should be friendly and invite you to touch or sit on them.
Cynthia Sah and Nicolas Bertoux, Aquarium, 2012, white marble, 10.4 × 4.5 × 0.24 m, Taipei, Taiwan
Finally Cynthia takes me to their basement, and what was originally a trout farm feeding the Medicis in the Palace opposite. This breathtaking long gallery is now their exhibition space, where they host events for their non-profit foundation, Arkad.
The gallery in Cynthia and Nicolas's workspace, Seravezza
Credits
Producer: Sarah Monk
Sound edit/design: Guy Dowsett
Music: courtesy of Audio Network
Nature Of Winter 2 3238/66, Richard Lacy and John Ashton Thomas
Fifth Dimension 2 3253/34, Jody Jenkins
Seeking 3088/8, Mark Johns
All photos by Cynthia Sah