Cv/bio
Indo-British artist, Soniya has lived in different parts of Africa and India. She currently resides in Madrid. She has a doctorate in post-colonial studies, feminism and contemporary Indian art. Her thesis was awarded the Outstanding Research Prize by the Spanish Association of Interdisciplinary Studies on India, (AEEII). She studied Fine Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria.
As a multidisciplinary researcher and artist, her work is focused on gender issues from an intersectional feminist perspective and the challenges faced by people from different cultures and social classes. Interested in portraying the human condition, she seeks to make visible the stories of people who dedicate themselves to denouncing human rights violations and fight to promote policies of change towards equality and social justice.
She frequently holds artistic-pedagogical and therapeutic meetings and has published in several academic journals. He has exhibited individually in India and different countries in Europe and Africa. Her work is found in several public and private collections.
ACADEMIC DETAILS
PhD, Postcolonial Studies, Feminism and Indian Contemporary Art.
Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Institute of Feminist Investigations, INSTIFEM
Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. (Summa Cum Laude). (2015-2020).
BA, Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) Nigeria. (1981-1986).
EXHIBITIONS AND PRIZES (Selected)
Doctoral thesis award (2021) (AEEII) University of Cordoba, Spain. Outstanding Research Prize by the Spanish Association of Interdisciplinary Studies on India, (AEEII) https://www.uco.es/servicios/actualidad/vida-academica/item/140739-fallado-el-i-premio-a-la-mejor-tesis-doctoral-de-asociacion-espanola-de-estudios-interdisciplinarios-sobre-india-presidida-por-la-uco
September 2023
Amnesty Internacional Poster: Mujer Vida y Libertad. Plaza de Juan Goytisolo (Museo Reina Sofía)
https://blogs.es.amnesty.org/madrid/eventos/madrid-vigilia-en-el-aniversario-de-la-muerte-de-masha-amini-un-ano-de-protestas/
June - September 2023
Las mujeres en la vida de Picasso. Group show curated by Concha Mayordomo held at the Instituto de las Mujeres, Madrid. https://www.epe.es/es/cultura/20230719/mujeres-delante-picasso-90035028
November - December 2022
Prostitución, Un atentado contra los Derechos Humanos. Palacio de Congresos y Auditorio de Navarra, BALUARTE, Gobierno de Navarra, con la asociación de artistas BNM.
https://www.nicdo.es/baluarte/exposicin-prostitucin-un-atentado-contra-los-derechos-humanos/ https://extension.uned.es/actividad/24123 https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/sociedad/2022/11/21/prostitucion-atentado-derechos-humanos-exposicion-6246794.html
https://blanconegroymagenta.com/prostitucion-un-atentado-contra-los-derechos-humanos-en-la-sala-baluarte-de-pamplona-navarra/
May - August 2022
Solo show Bibliofilia solo photographic exhibition, organised by the Spanish Association of Interdisciplinary Studies of India (AEEII), UCO Cultura and other organisations. Curated by Antonia Navarro Tejero. Cardenal Salazar Gallery, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Cordoba, Spain. https://www.cordobabn.com/articulo/cultura/galerias-salazar-espacio-expositivo-facultad-filosofia-letras-cordoba-acoge-mes-agosto-exposicion-bibliophilia/20220513155806131283.html
Abril - May 2022
'[D]ONES', la mujer y el mar. Group show in Sala de la Muralla,Colegio Mayor Rector Peset, University of Valencia, with the Association of BNM artists.
https://valenciaplaza.com/una-exposicion-en-el-rector-peset-reconstruye-la-relacion-historica-entre-la-mujer-y-el-mar
May 2021
Café Cabaret Voltaire. Group show in the Café Cabaret Voltaire, with the Association of BNM artists. Remembering Hannah Hoch, Sophie Taeuber-Harp & Emmy Hennings, co-founders of the Cabaret in Switzerland in recognition of unrepresented women artists of the Dada movement. Curated by Concha Mayordomo in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy. https://blanconegroymagenta.com/cafe-cabaret-voltaire/
May 2020
Chronical of a Pandemic Foretold. Public art work in homage and recognition of sixty eight health workers and hospital personnel who lost their lives to Covid -19, in Spain: Multidisciplinary digital art group portraits, on five, 10 mm thick methacrylate panels of 254 x 175 cm. Accompanied by a loop recording of the sound effects of applauses and music created in confinement, presented to the city council of Madrid, Spain.
February - March 2020
Group show: Amongst Others, Women in Prison. Exhibition at the Museo de las Mujeres of Costa Rica, (IAWM Partner) with BNM association of artists. https://www.museodelasmujeres.co.cr/exposiciones/2020/02/mujeres-encarceladas-entre-muchas-otras-por-blanco-negro-y-magenta-un-proyecto-de-concha-mayordomo
March - May 2020
Provincial Museum of Lugo, Group show: Esquecín que te Esquecín dialogues around Alzheimer’s, organised by BNM association of artists and the Provincial Council of Lugo, Plaza da Soidade, s / n - 27001 Lugo
September - October 2109
Group show with BNM association of artists”. I forgot that I forgot you dialogues around Alzheimer’s, organised by BNM association of artists, University of Valencia.
http://redemuseisticalugo.org/documentos.asp?mat=28&id=3303 https://issuu.com/magentasweb/docs/bnm_la_revista_7/s/10621794
December 2018
Group show: XXXII Emilio Ollero Painting contest and award, Remember! Giennenses Women Make History. The Institute of Giennenses Studies, Jaén, Spain.
November- December 2018
South Asian Women behind the camera, Visual Arts and technology with gender perspectives. Maternities Made in India: Nine Years, Nine months and Nine days later, solo photographic exhibition and guided tour, organised by the Spanish Association of Interdisciplinary Studies of India (AEEII). Curated by Helena del Campo, Cardenal Salazar Gallery, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Cordoba, Spain.
2017
Publication in magazine: Women Photographers. Passage of Time and the Wait: Nine Years, Nine Weeks and Nine Months Later. PHmuseum Ltd. Photographic Museum of Humanity. https://phmuseum.com/
February 2012
Solo Show: The Magic of Music. Professional Music Conservatory, Teresa Berganza, Madrid.
October 2011
Solo Show: The Magic of Music and Visionary Women. Cultural Centre El Greco, Madrid, Spain.
November 2008
Solo show: Visionary Women, Alma Latina Association, Latina Municipality, Madrid, Spain.
October 2007
Solo show: Organized and funded by Radio Vallecas, The international network of women Journalists and the Euro-African Association, as part of the program of a conference with the participation of over 50 eminent women of African and Latin American origin, held at the Colegio Mayor Argentino, Nuestra Señora de Luján, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid.
2004 - 2007
Various group shows organised and sponsored by AVENIR NEPAD and the Spanish Ministry Of Foreign Affairs in Madrid, in collaboration and funded by diverse Organisations: Centro de Investigación y Documentación Africana, Colegio Mayor Nuestra Señora de Africa, amongst others.
June 2001
Prize: solo show in Sala Godoy, Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Villaviciosa de Odón.
Group show: Taller-Galeria, Madrid.
2000
Group show: Casa de la cultura. Selected works, from the Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Guadarrama, Madrid.
Group show: Casa de la cultura and El casino Gran Madrid. Selected works from the Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Torrelodones, and various provinces in Córdoba.
Group show: Pequeño Formato, organised by the Spanish Association of painters and sculptors, Madrid.
1999
Prize: Premio Lienzos Levante, from the Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Trijueque, Guadalajara.
Third Prize: Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Cifuentes, Guadalajara.
Group show: Selected works from the Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Colmenar Viejo, Madrid.
Various group shows organised by the Spanish Association of painters and sculptors, Madrid.
1996
Group show: selected works, from the Certamen de Pintura Rápida, Brunete, Madrid.
1994
Solo show: Sala El Muro. Organised by the Ayuntamiento de El Escorial, (Madrid).
BOOK COVER DESIGN: Universidad Libertarias Prodhufi La Charla, by Luis Fernández Rodríguez, Madrid. ISBN: 84-7954-208-X
1993
Prize: Votación Popular, 5th Certamen de Pintura Rápida del Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid.
Group show: Crisis, in the Círculo de Bellas Artes centre, Madrid.
1992
Prize: Votación Popular, 4th Certamen de Pintura Rápida del Parque del Buen Retiro. Group show in the Casa de Vaca, Madrid.
1990:
Group show: LONDON, Exhibition of selected works at the Royal Festival Hall of London
1989:
Group show: JOHN PLAYER PORTRAIT AWARD, Exhibition of selected works at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
1987
Soniya: Solo show sponsored by the BRITISH COUNCIL, Enugu, Nigeria.
1986
Group show: Garden Gallery, New Cross, London.
WORK HELD IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Fundación AMIGOS DE MADRID, Madrid.
Fundación CELA, Galicia.
Ayuntamiento de CIFUENTES, Guadalajara.
Colección LIENZOS LEVANTE, Trijueque, Guadalajara.
CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS
2020
BOOK COVER DESIGN: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Editor (s): Juan Ignacio Oliva-Cruz, Antonia Navarro-Tejero, Jorge Diego Sánchez. Series: India Studies, Revolving Around India (s) Alternative Images, Emerging Perspectives.
Hardback ISBN-13: 978-1-5275-4524-3 ISBN-10: 1-5275-4524-5. Publication: 03/01/2020
BOOK COVER DESIGN: Plural Bodies. Cambridge Scholars Publishing Editor (s): Alejandra Moreno Álvarez (et al.). Spiritual and Corporeal Selves in India Interdisciplinary approaches in a Global World. (Publication in process) http://www.cambridgescholars.com/
January 2020
Art and Health Workshop: Strolling with Frida, participants create a cathartic collage and paint self-portrait using the theme of the session as a spring board. The session develops accompanied by calming music and snacks; carried out in small groups and specifically designed as a mindfulness and therapy session for people suffering from anxiety or other such maladies
November 2019
VI International Conference: Gandhi in Contemporary India, organised by AEEII, Spanish Association of Interdisciplinary Studies on India, The University of Valladolid, Herreriano Patio Museum and the Casa de India. Gandhi: A Thousand Contradictions. Roundtable, art workshop and exhibition.
Aletheia International Congress: Art, Therapy, Trauma and Emotional Memory. Faculty of Education, University Complutense of Madrid. https://www.ucm.es/aletheia/que-es-aletheia
January 2019
Workshops with teenagers: Postcards for Laura curated by Concha Mayordomo, White, Black and Magenta association of Artists, (BNM).
November 2018
International Seminar, AEEII, Conference: Contribution, Bharat: The Multiple Faces of New India, Organised by the Spanish Association of Interdisciplinary Studies of India, (AEEII). Faculty of Philology, University of Cordoba, Spain.