StageLync Podcast Ep. 87: Scenography, Global Borders, and the Future of Design with Aby Cohen
Aby Cohen, an award-winning performance and exhibition designer, curator, and the current President of OISTAT—the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. With a career spanning from the vibrant cultural landscape of Brazil to her current work in the UK, Aby’s practice is deeply rooted in her heritage as a first-generation immigrant and a “third culture kid.” Her work frequently explores the concepts of borders, transparency, and the dialogue between the human body and space.
Beyond her international leadership and design projects, Aby is a dedicated educator. As a professor at the Academy of Live Technology, she guides the next generation of scenographers to think out of the box, encouraging them to find their own creative voice amidst an increasingly digital world. The conversation explores how a multicultural upbringing influences spatial design and delves into her provocative 2019 project, “The Body as Space Territory,” which offered eerie parallels to the pandemic world that followed. The episode also examines the role of OISTAT in bridging the East and West through theatrical collaboration and why Aby believes the industry must eventually prioritize the messy beauty of the artistic process over the pressure of a “fault-free” final product.
Throughout the discussion, Aby shares invaluable advice for emerging designers on the importance of networking and mastering one’s “inner world” before turning to software. She highlights the shift from hierarchical structures to horizontal collaboration, arguing that the best designs emerge when ownership is shared and boundaries are blurred. From the technical nuances of software like Resolume and Vectorworks to the philosophical pursuit of belonging, Aby offers a masterclass in how to design for a world that is constantly in motion.
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Host: Anna Robb
Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil
Music: Jeremy Willi
Design: Em Holt
Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo
Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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