Art - Sofi Khan

Requiem

90x120cm

Acrylic and glass on canvas

“Under the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie. Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will. This be the verse you grave for me: Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill.” Requiem (1880) Robert Louis Stevenson

Leave the Pieces

50x50cm

Acrylic and glass on canvas

I used to do this sort of mixed media when I was about 15 years old (minus me smashing glass and mosaic tiles with a hammer on concrete!) I wasn’t going to title this painting, as abstract pieces like these are often open to interpretation. ‘Leave the Pieces’ is a song by the Wreckers, and it’s about long goodbyes and how one person at the end of a relationship is struggling to let go whilst the other wants it to be over with. There’s often a lot of mud-flinging and gaslighting at the end of some relationships, and the shards of glass (to me) represent the sharpness of a spoken word and how hurtful it can feel.

Stand Still Look Pretty

90x120cm

Acrylic on canvas

I’ve never actually painted anything whilst annoyed before, so this certainly was a first! I named this piece after a song written by one of my favourite country-duos, the Wreckers. It’s about trying to keep a smile on your face for society, whilst crumbling on the inside. People are quick to judge others, without trying to truly understand the person within. I recently experienced the feeling of being judged for having hopes and dreams for myself. Women are often shamed for being high-maintenance, but by the end of the day, we aren’t necessarily asking a man to foot the bill. We are creators of our own wealth, and we don’t need a man or society to tell us otherwise. This woman may not conform to society’s expectations of her, and whilst she feels judged and is told to cater to the male gaze, there is a determination and resolve in her of choosing to be different and loving herself. Thanks to the guy who reminded me of this, because now I have this painting.

Godless

90x120cm

Acrylic on canvas

This painting is interpreted by many as the woman exhibiting determination and rage. This piece is the result of what happens when you face heartbreak on top of heartbreak, and having to learn the same lesson in a subtle yet triggering way. This was a hard one for me to paint, but it also felt quite cathartic.

I usually do a touch up of my paintings, especially the portraits, but I made an exception for this piece as I wanted to capture the rawness of the emotions.

Godless is also the name of a song by Banks, which inspired its title.

La Noche Oscura Del Alma

46x60cm

Acrylic on canvas

This poem was inspired by the poem titled ‘The Dark Night’ by Saint John of the Cross, which talks about the dark night of the soul, which is what the title of the painting means. The song ‘Aunque Es De Noche’ by Rosalía also inspired this piece.

This piece expresses vulnerability yet a sense of calm, as the character focuses on her healing journey. This is probably one of my favourite pieces to date.

Quinceañera

90x120cm

Acrylic on canvas

This is one of my larger pieces. Quinceañera is a well-known ceremony in Latin American countries, celebrating a girl’s transition to womanhood.

This piece reflected that mental and emotional transition in my own life, of taking the lessons and moving forward.

A Amar De Nuevo

Actual size, 24x32cm. Framed, 53x63cm

Acrylic on paper

I’m a massive fan of Modigliani’s work, and this was my take on one of his pieces.

I must have been in a hopeful mood when I painted this, as the painting translates in English to, ‘to love again’. Looking back on this, I’m not actually sure what I thought I knew about love, but there was something about this woman’s expression that made me title this as such.

They danced by the light of the moon

50x50cm

Acrylic on canvas

This piece was very much inspired by my mother’s favourite poem, ‘The Owl and the Pussy-cat’ by Edward Lear.

The moon in astrology represents emotions. This piece reflects the delusional hopes that often come at the beginning of a relationship, of dancing with your partner by the light of the moon until the end of time.

O Rose Thou Art Sick

46x60cm

Acrylic on canvas

This piece was my take on Picasso’s Woman with a Crow – 1904. I named it after a poem written by William Blake, which is a story about the relationship between a rose and the worm.

The worm has a corrupting influence on the purity of the rose, and slowly destroys her. The woman here represents the rose, and while the crow is making her arm bleed, he is sad and she comforts him despite the fact that he is hurting her. This was my interpretation of a very toxic yet codependent relationship between two people.

Muraqabah

Actual size – 24x32cm, Framed – 53x63cm

Acrylic on paper

I can’t take the entire credit for this piece, I saw a painting of this online, of two Sufis going into a state of reflection and this was my interpretation of it.

When two broken souls meet, whilst they may connect, they need to go away and do the work either separately or in tandem. This is a painting of two deeply connected souls deciding to work on themselves by connecting with the divine.

Doler

Actual size – 24x32cm, Framed – 53x63cm

Acrylic on paper

This means sadness, in Spanish. Rosalía’s song “Dolerme” inspired this piece.

To me quite simply, this meant going into a solitary state to reflect on one’s feelings, and allowing oneself to experience melancholy.

A Amar De Nuevo

Actual size – 24x32cm, Framed – 53x63cm

Acrylic on paper

I’m a massive fan of Modigliani’s work, and this was my take on one of his pieces. I must have been in a hopeful mood when I painted this, as the painting translates in English to “to love again”. Looking back on this, I’m not actually sure what I thought I knew about love, but there was something about this woman’s expression that made me title this as such.