Sofia Markina, a candidate of technical sciences and a retired associate professor with 40 years of experience, has always found joy in creativity throughout her life. Although her primary career was deeply rooted in science, she consistently and joyfully engaged in knitting, creating models, and selecting patterns. She crafted dresses, bags, swimsuits, and hats, infusing her daily life with creativity on a practical level.
Until recently, painting was a closed door for her. An art teacher once told her in school, "This is not for you, girl," and she believed him. However, during the pandemic, she learned about right-brain drawing and decided to explore this new avenue. This exploration became a revelation for her: she completed several courses, attended the Rumak School, fell in love with acrylics, and hopes she has finally found her unique style. Despite lacking formal artistic education, she has participated in twelve exhibitions and an art tour of Baikal.
Sofia Markina is a contemporary Russian artist. In her works, she strives to capture the fleeting images of our short lives, their multilayered nature, and complexity. She explores how we perceive ourselves and see others. Her fantastical, collage-like narratives are full of vibrant color experiments. Technically, she creates rich compositions filled with numerous characters, allowing the viewer to feel and embody various situations.
Sofia invites the viewer to collaborate: one does not see with just the eyes but with the mind. She outlines the painting and gives hints through color, leaving space for interpretation. What the viewer sees will form their own story in their mind, if they choose to see, if they wish to engage, if they are able. This concept is reminiscent of an old Dadaist game: "Find it, understand it, piece together this puzzle in your mind."
The illusion of perception is a distorted evaluation of either a real or fantastical image, creating a discrepancy between what a person sees and what exists in reality. Each individual will be absolutely convinced of their own correctness and may fervently defend their viewpoint or, conversely, pass by indifferently, perhaps tired or preoccupied. However, it may be worth taking a closer look once more, and you might see an entirely different story.
