Vlada 2017

Sofia Bonati made "Vlada" with what looks like graphite and ink, and what strikes me first is the dance between control and letting go. The drawing is all about lines, like a super-detailed doodle. Bonati uses this swirling pattern that reminds me of water or maybe even thoughts circling around. It’s pretty dense, but the way the lines curve and meet, it’s as if the artist is mapping out an inner world. Look at how the hair mirrors the background, it gives a sense of the figure being part of something bigger. That contrast between the pale face and the swirling abstraction reminds me a little of Gustav Klimt. But whilst Klimt used gold leaf to dazzling effect, here Bonati uses just pencil and ink, showing how much you can do with simple materials. Ultimately, the drawing offers a space for our own interpretations. It’s not about pinning down one meaning, but letting the artwork spark something in you.