Serie 4x4 2012

Sofia Areal created this artwork in 2012 using acrylic and ink on paper. Areal came of age during a transformative period in Portugal, navigating a society marked by the contradictions of tradition and modernity. In "Serie 4x4," stark contrasts of black and white create a compelling visual field, punctuated by yellow lines that guide the eye. Splatters of ink disrupt the composition, evoking feelings of movement. This contrast can be read through the lens of identity, reflecting the negotiation between visibility and invisibility, dominance and marginalization, which are common experiences. The work prompts us to consider the many binaries structuring social and personal experiences and the way societal expectations can obscure individual expression. Areal's abstract forms speak to the emotional and personal dimensions of these societal structures.