Sophie Thun uses her body as a tool to examine and question established concepts of society, sex, and gender. The illusionary space of the picture seems to merge with the real space of the viewer, challenging accustomed ways of seeing.
There is a long tradition of female self-representation in European art history. Over centuries, women artists have explored their (assigned) roles, depicted themselves and the tools of their craft, and used the technique of mise-en-abyme, the image within an image. Sophie Thun’s work is part of this tradition, and her photographs contain references that go as far back as the sixteenth century. At the same time, her work addresses the precarious working conditions of young women artists in Western society today. C/O Berlin is presenting the first institutional solo exhibition of Sophie Thun’s work.
