Sonoko Obuchi

Japanese born multimedia artist Sonoko Obuchi was the first ever artist in residence for the Historic Royal Palaces (Kensington Palace & Tower of London). There she produced a contemporary art film that connected Londoners who live in council flats to the palaces through their architectural similarities.

The artwork became part of their permanent collection in 2009

She was appointed as a gallery curator of Novas homeless charity, curating and representing artworks of under-represented artists, and collaborated with Bethlem Royal Hospital, curating and exhibiting the artworks of its patients.

Sonoko had been a stage set designer for Millfield Theatre’s annual Pantomime for 11 years, working closely with the director Marc Day from 2010 – 2021. Her solo exhibition ‘POP JAPAN’ (2017, Dugdale Centre, Enfield) was extended by two months due to popularity.

She has a PGCE teaching qualification and has been teaching art in SEND and mainstream schools across London, and currently teaching art foundation course in ABC College London.

Sonoko has a great passion for creating animation.  Her personal project ‘Neon LDN’ has been created in collaboration with her son who is out of school since the first Covid-19 lock down.  The animation portrays two school refusal teens, their struggles and friendship through the game they play together.  She has been featured in several high end fashion magazines such as ‘Wonderland.’ and ‘1883 Magazine’ in 2022 for directing, writing and animating a music video for REUNIØN called ‘Caves’.  Sonoko has recently created a launch animation video for What To Do Now, creating five characters and stories to represent their lives and how WTDN will be able to help and assist them.

Sonoko is very honoured and excited to be one of the ambassadors to What To Do Now project!