Sonoyo Nishikawa commands my admiration for her human and artistic journey. One must applaud the audacity of a young Japanese woman in the earlier nineties creating in a medium then largely reserved for men, persistent in her dreams and ambitions.
I can still picture her at that time we met, a discreet and adventurous artist, as she began to work with Ex Machina and Robert Lepage. Driven by her passion, she quickly moved to Québec City, perfected her English and learned the French language, which she now masters. After many years living in Quebec City, she has now settled in Montreal.
Our paths diverged at the dawn of the year 2000, as I became a theatre director myself, but I had the immense pleasure of collaborating with Sonoyo a few years ago, calling on her talent to create the lighting designs for some of the productions I staged: Peepshow, La vie utile and Eclipse. I experienced firsthand how her sensitive approach had not ceased to expand and blossom. Moving from Tokyo to Quebec City, from Montreal to New York, and easily alternating between different artistic genres and budgets, Sonoyo is always keen to adapt to the circumstances. From New York’s Metropolitan Opera to Théâtre de Quat’sous, Espace GO to la Place des Arts, from Broadway to Tokyo’s Metropolitan Theater, she approaches every project, whether underground or mainstream, with the same attention to detail that characterizes her work. And every project she collaborates on benefits from her total and generous commitment.
Keen on experimentation and always on the lookout for new technologies and innovative forms, Sonoyo has created many works of beauty. Her exquisite taste and the rigour with which she constantly renews her eye are worthy of admiration and an example to follow for all young artists who create with light.
-Written by Marie Brassard
Danseurs/Dancers : Aurora De Mori et/and Roddy Doble
Chorégraphie/Choreography : Désir de/by James Kudelka
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Which neighbourhood are you in?
Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie
What do you do?
Lighting Designer for Performing Arts
What are you currently working on?
The piece is called “Desir” choreographed by James Kudelka. It is one of the pieces in the program “LUDMILLA” celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ludmilla Chiriaeff, the founder of Les Grands Ballets Canadians.
Where can we find your work?
The main field is theatres in Montréal. For example, the above work at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier – Place des Arts. Sometimes it can also be at French theatres such as Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, and one of the programs of FTA. Or English theatres such as the Segal Centre and the Centaur Theatre.
