About:
Inspired by accounts of out-of-body and near-death experiences, Sophie Ruigrok's practice explores ideas of subjecthood, consciousness, and the destabilisation of the self. Driven by an inner compulsion to document images and concepts that compel her, Ruigrok’s process begins with collecting diverse inspirational elements – from overheard phrases and literary passages to more ethereal sources like dream atmospheres or emotional states.
As Ruigrok develops her sketches, she often encounters gaps in the visual narrative. To bridge these voids, she thoughtfully borrows from art history, creating drawings and paintings that function as intricate composites of her personal universe. The resulting images are fragments from the past, present and the imagined, coalesced into non-linear narratives in which the repetition of motifs become increasingly refracted within the dream logic they occupy.
Sophie Ruigrok (b. 1992) lives and works in London.
"My compositions merge biographical imagery with found photographs of strangers. Despite the scenes being distant in time, their subjects often perform the same rituals. By creating new narratives, I comment on the cyclical nature of time and highlight universal recurring themes in the collective unconscious."
"Although my work comprises many surreal elements, unlike the surrealists I hardly ever turn to my unconscious for imagery. Rather, I work intentionally, including deliberate symbols or motifs that function like a code, hinting a greater narrative beyond the picture plane."
"My vision of nature is exaggerated, oversaturated or larger than life; this speaks to a contemporary yearning for the natural world, as well as a disconnect from its realities."
More Sophie Ruigrok:
About our Artist Features
Our artist features series is a continuation of our past Instagram story series. Meant as a brief introduction to an artist, we aim for these post to be a reprieve to your scrolling, a stimulus for creativity and dialogue, and a fun way to share images and ideas that are inspiring us.