Serie 4x4 2012

Sofia Areal made "Serie 4x4," using broad strokes of vibrant yellow and stark black on a 57 by 77 cm canvas. Born in 1960, Areal's work emerges from a generation grappling with Portugal’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. Here, we see the echoes of a society in flux: bold yellow figures dominate the space, yet are contained by heavy black outlines. Are these figures individuals, or do they represent the collective, bound together? The dripped paint and frenetic lines evoke the energy of a society trying to find its new form and identity. Areal’s approach isn't to give us answers, but to reflect the questions, the tensions, and the emotional landscape of a changing world. The painting invites us to consider the push and pull between individual expression and societal expectations.