SOFIA MITSOLA

The artist draws inspiration from a wide spectrum of visual culture—from the sensual depictions of the human body in paintings by Gustav Klimt, Fernand Khnopff, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, to the dramatic runway aesthetics of John Galliano, the Art Deco elegance of Tamara de Lempicka, 1980s Playboy, and Japanese anime characters. Her figures transcend historical periods, gender roles, and stylistic conventions, proposing bodies that are fluid, ever-changing, and unapologetically bold.

The figures in Astropoodles possess both curves and muscularity, moving across the canvas with a mix of seduction and playful attitude. They appear strong and self-assured, their poses marked by exaggerated twists, impossible angles and inflated chests. In particular, the repeated gesture of crossing the legs functions as a symbolic gesture of self-satisfaction and sexual anatomy.

Especially in this series, the artist captures moments of bodies in various states: one figure may appear to be in a trance-like, dazed state, while others hover between sleep and wakefulness, and yet another remains in the fleeting moment just before transformation. Floating through cosmic space, they strike poses that suggest liberation from everyday life.

Transformation in Mitsola’s universe is often accompanied by playful reversals. Whereas her previous paintings filled large canvases with monumental female figures, Astropoodles sees them metamorphose into dainty, compact and adorable poodles. This contrast between the grandiose and the miniature offers a humorous yet potent reimagining of identity and self-image. Centred around the exhibition’s key image, Astropoodles, the artist imagines her figures as *‘Astral Coquettes,’ ‘sci-fi bathers,’ and ‘poodles leaping into space (Astropoodles—a term coined by the artist combining ‘astral’ and ‘poodle,’)’ referring to poodles leaping into space.). These small poodles spring across cosmic landscapes, blending playful bodily transformations, fantasy, and escapism—all brought to life through a sci-fi, futuristic lens.

The moon emerges as a key visual and symbolic element, representing both the ‘astral self’ and a symbol of sexual autonomy and inner transformation. Echoing the rounded forms of wigs and puffs of hair, it projects a soft, moonlit energy onto the canvas, evoking mythological beings such as Artemis, Lilith and Diana—goddesses of transformation, mystery, and power. The recurring motif of the moon strengthens the connection between physical and emotional metamorphosis, referencing Western werewolf legends as well as East Asian folklore, including Korea’s gumiho and Japan’s kitsune—seductive, shape-shifting fox spirits.

These mythic narratives are reinterpreted through Mitsola’s contemporary lens. At the heart of this mythos is the Sphinx, a recurring figure in her practice. This half-human, half-beast appears with an enigmatic gaze and sly smile, conjuring tension, allure, and danger. Rooted in Greek mythology, where the Sphinx is known for devouring men, the artist focuses on the tension, sense of threat, and underlying allure that arise when the viewer confronts these figures, exploring the complex emotions it provokes.

The figures on screen transcend time and space through accessories, costumes, and makeup that hint at different eras—evoking the protagonist of the film Orlando (1992), whose identity shifts across both gender and century. These varied symbols come together in harmony to create moments where each character is reborn as a mythical being. Oversized wigs, ribbons, fur, chokers, and bone jewelry reference a wide range of styles, from the opulence of 18th-century French fashion to the elegance of Art Deco, further highlighting the visual richness and fluidity of identity in the work.

Astropoodles is a celebration—and a declaration—of desiring bodies, desired bodies, and bodies that play in the space between. Mitsola hopes that viewers will find empowerment in her work, perhaps even see reflections of themselves in the figures’ poses. Many visitors strike the same bold stances in front of the works, echoing the figures as if paying homage to them like modern-day goddesses. With this exhibition, the artist invites audiences to reconnect with their inner selves, embrace their desires, and exist fearlessly in their own skin, stirring an alternate self that lies dormant within each of us.

* Astral Coquettes: A compound term created by the artist, combining ‘astral’ and ‘coquette.’ The word ‘coquette’ refers to a concept of outdated French culture and European femininity influenced by the Victorian era and the 1950s, carrying meanings such as ‘seductive woman’ or ‘femme fatale.’