Performance artist brings history to life at Buxton Museum

On July 25 and August 15, the exhibition will receive a visit from Arto’s sister, Astra, re-imagined as an artistic performance by Sarah Coggrave, who lives in Glossop.

Sarah, a performance artist and researcher, uses characters and costumes to bring hidden histories to life.

She once lived in the former Funduklian home in Didsbury. Whilst in residence there, she produced a solo exhibition and live performances (in whichshe brought the character of Astra to life), inspired by the Funduklian family. This was shown at Didsbury Parsonage in 2014. The project was also included in a recent BBC Radio 4 documentary Out Of Armenia.

Following the First World War in which he worked for US Intelligence, Arto became a textile trader in New York. In the 1920s, he spent time in Paris where he developed a passion for collecting art.

He spent his latter years in Buxton, sharing a flat with his brother Vahe.

Sarah will be exploring what brought the brothers to Buxton in her performance at the museum and art gallery on July 25 and August 15 between 2pm and 4pm.