∞ by sophu8

About

'∞' is an exhibition of visceral and tactile paintings. It encompasses a seven-year body of work, that channels emotional states into figurations of flowers in charcoal, pigment and blood on hand-sewn antique canvases. These are extremly personal paintings which spring from a deeply reflective and transformational time in the artist’s life. Following a near death experience, this body of work is a celebration of what ultimately matters in his life.

A motif that began as naïve and intuitive interpretations of naturalistic thistle-like vegetation, the flowers began to embody diverse, emotional and psychic states through trancelike repetition. These are “psychosis flowers” layered in malignant intricacy and smudged with pain, vascular blooms that seem to throb and pulse with psychotropic revelation; flowers of euphoria and exaltation; of communal revelry and dance. Text fragments appear throughout the paintings like half-remembered glimmers, snatched from the abyss.

Sophus has sewn into each canvas a magnetic element which allows the work to be hung effortlessly, offering spontaneity and participation. He prefers not to offer his work as precious, Sophus wants his audience to touch and get close to the work. The work is raw with no embellishments, hand-stitching and frayed edges openly demonstrate the processes, materials and technique.

Vernissage: Thursday 11th May, 5pm–10pm