What I Hear..

Walking in Union Square during the middle of the day, I heard a variety of keynotes. No matter how far I walked, there was a constant background of beeping, tires screeching, and footwear hitting the ground. I have never really noticed not only how constant these three sounds are, but how they mesh together to form a sort of blur when I'm walking in a neighborhood as busy as Union Square.

I think there are definitely a variety of sounds that, when heard together, make it clear that you've entered this neighborhood. These sounds are: birds chirping, people yelling, and music blaring. So far, Union Square Park has managed to provide this every time without disappointment. As I was listening, I took notice how expected all of these sounds were to the visitors of the park. It was common knowledge that someone would be there with a boombox playing techno music while they juggled, as that happened today. Giving a specific realization to this made me see how unique this park was and why it attracted so many people at all hours of the day.

As I wandered to the benches, I heard the familiar sound of several people chatting among each other all along the wooden row. This sound was more familiar to the park scene but seeing how calm and intimate all of these conversations were when there was a jungle of activities and sounds all around them made the whole scene look funny to someone who was an observer.

Define A Space

East to West from Sofya P on Vimeo.

Artist Statement

People are my constant inspiration. People and relationships. I am deeply interested in the everyday rituals and relationships of the average person. Everything from mundane tasks to heartfelt interactions. For me, the base of any interesting piece of art is the focus on the connection of what people go through and who they go through it with. I tend to gravitate towards art that romanticizes everyday life.

I find that visual mediums such as film and television best portray this topic meaningfully, as well as writing. My interest in people carries me to explore aspects of subculture in my art. I am interested in how people react to taboo topics and hope to make art that normalizes them. I have found myself inspired from movies about the mafia, shows about outlaw life, stories of drug abuse, along with violence induced scenes.

 Lastly, I hope to be an artist that deals with public issues. I am particularly interested in highlighting that which is unknown to the public. This may include types of activism, political issues, and world events. I think we can tell a lot about a person based on how they react to these situations. For me, it has always been sarcasm and satire and therefore I have related better to people who share this view. I plan to use these tactics in the characters and scenarios I create. I do not wish for my art to relate to everyone, but I wish that those who do relate to it, to do so deeply.