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Sophia Dia Pegrum
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Artist Statement
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Imbued with childhood dread and wonder at the billions of stars overhead in dark English skies and inspired by the prehistoric megaliths, menhirs and longbarrows our ancestors built, this artwork is an expression of our human desire to solidify this incalculable chaos in finite ways. Coloured with the collective awe that humanity shares for our fragile finite selves in the infinite vastness of the Universe, these paintings are a response to the ancestral connection we feel present in these massive stone and earthworks like Avebury, as well as an exploration of their astronomical significance.
The "Helios" series: Humankind has been using the earth's precious resources since we learned how to capture fire. Our technology now means that we are capable of harnessing the energy of the eternal fire of the sun so we can stop using dwindling and damaging fossil fuels. These paintings are a reflection on the lifegiving power, beauty and light creation of this star at the centre of our solar system. In warm golds and sunset-like hues, these paintings are circular designs with offset circles which are based on planets orbital path about the sun. The deeper layers of text in the paintings reveal the science of the sun, how it produces light through fission which produces particles which are singularly integral to our existence. The "Astrolith" series: By using multiple layers of scientific text, mathmatical/sacred space designs and symbolic textural patterns, the paintings as a harmonious whole are balancing and contemplative. Upon further inspection they raise questions about knowledge, our place in the universe and our ways of interpreting our human experience either artistically or scientifically. Sophie was born in Bristol, England and now lives in Southern California with her adopted greyhound Mawson. In Topanga Canyon they are surrounded by the awesome majesty of the Santa Monica Mountains and they dream under a canopy of almost dark skies... Sophie is also a documentary filmmaker and writer and is currently working on a documentary about Artist Lita Albuquerque and her upcoming installation at the South Pole. Please see website www.sophiadia.com for more details. |
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