Sofia Mitsola

Sofia Mitsola explores the female nude through painting, drawing and printmaking. Taking inspiration from ancient Egyptian and Greek sculpture, her characters are tall, lean, almost adolescent-like figures who share simple geometric forms. Sphinxes and Sirens, mythological creatures that would seduce and devour men, are strong recurrent themes, which allow her to investigate the potential of the female form and her own view towards it as a female maker, whilst inviting the viewer to participate in the act of looking.

Mitsola details that she was particularly interested in creating a ‘mysterious atmosphere’ in Turin Horse, one that suggests a dream or a memory. The ghostly rider becomes one with the horse, and begins to fade away, slipping from the viewer’s grasp. They are revealed by a bright light emanating from a green moon, which lights up a deep turquoise sky; both complimenting the intense cadmium orange space of the foreground and producing a peculiar, uncanny landscape which feels distinctly different and other-worldy. 

Turkish Bathdisplays Misola’s fascination with ideas of confrontation and gaze. We are presented with a larger-than-life figure, submerged in water. She stretches out her arms, turns her torso to face the viewer, and with her gaze invites them to participate in the act of looking; to take pleasure in this scene which appears almost ceremonial, and deeply intimate - calling to mind depictions of Egyptian goddesses composed with multiple perspectives. This sensation of intimacy is heightened by her application of paint - the layers of thin washes and opaque glazes used to describe the textures of the white towel, the seal-like swimsuit, the sheer tulle covering the figure’s decolletage and arms, produces a sumptuous aquatic world with a strong sense of dreamlike lightness.