Sophronia Cook, tugging from oblivion for a moment, 2024

2024

Medium

Vinyl, silk, graphite, oil paint, silver leaf and sterling silver

Dimensions

105 × 63.5 cm

Status

In Gallery Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-155974

In "tugging from oblivion for a moment" (2024) and "sphinx warble" (2024), Sophronia Cook combines materials such as vinyl, silk, graphite, oil paint, silver leaf, and sterling silver to create a multi-layered painting that addresses surface and depth both visually and conceptually. Her starting point is a silk base, onto which she applies silicone to define forms. By layering oil paint and graphite and then removing the silicone, a ghostly imprint remains, further accentuated by silver applications. The layered surfaces and use of the moiré effect—a flowing, wave-like pattern created by overlapping structures—evoke images that resemble the fragmented and fleeting nature of memories. These overlays and visual interferences reflect the process of remembering and forgetting, as clear forms repeatedly dissolve into blurs and distortions. In Cook’s works, the boundary between reality and imagination becomes blurred. Her technique supports an exploration of in-between spaces, reminding us that every perception is inherently fragmented. Cook’s works poetically convey the fluidity of memory and the fragility of perception. In "tugging from oblivion for a moment" (2024), Cook works with a technique of repeated application and sanding of paint, turning the canvas into a multi-layered object in which numerous traces and fragmentations come together to reveal past moments and memories.