In the mix of colours and shapes - the work of Sophie Smallhorn

Parts 1 by Sophie Smallhorn, photograph by ruthward.com

I recently treated myself to a yummy lockdown treat by taking out a subscription for UPPERCASE magazine. When the much anticipated issue 44 hit the doormat I wasted no time in ripping off the packaging to get my hands on it and absorb the smell, the feel and the promise contained in its pages. Amongst all the inspiring features and pages dedicated to art and design, the profile on the artist Sophie Smallhorn stood out and resonated with me making me want to share the goodness. Sophie makes beautiful 3D (and 2D) works which are a feast of colour and form. Her ‘cube’ pieces - (see the cover) - made by gluing together coloured shapes are intended for attaching to a wall thereby blurring the effect that an in-the-round free standing sculpture has with that of a 2 dimensional painting. The white wall is the backdrop which maximises the subtleties at play between the colours while at the same time becoming an integral part of the work itself absorbing some of its colour - an inherent quality of its 3d-ness.

Colour is key. And the process by which Sophie chooses the colour is integral – none of the computer generated CMYK or RGB or pantone nonsense – but real tactile ‘colour’ as form. She tells Jane Audas “I find it hard to specify colour via CAD because I feel such a disconnect with the colour. I just mix my colours until they are right; it’s totally intuitive”. This is music to my ears as a screenprinter. You can’t beat mixing colours in a pot (like adding spices to a stew) to get the result you want. These gorgeous forms and intense mix of colours are reminiscent of the sculptures of Donald Judd – one of my favourite artists and the paintings of Malevich and the Suprematists – which I also love! The ‘negative’ gap-shapes in between steeped in the surrounding colour..

I miss going to the studio at 3rd Rail Print Space where I put on my apron and get inky hands screenprinting my fabrics as it’s been temporarily closed for a few weeks now. I’ve had to turn to designing digitally at home which is not as satisfying. The sculptural work of Sophie Smallhorn is a refreshing reminder of just how beautiful and original and powerful the act of physically ‘making things’ can be.

“I find it hard to specify colour via CAD because I feel such a disconnect with the colour. I just mix my colours until they are right; it’s totally intuitive”

— Sophie Smallhorn