Sophie Vallance - Grumpy Venus, 2021. Photo by Thomas Dashuber.
In the search for a contemporary Venus, we can hardly get past the bad-tempered version of Sophie Vallance, painted in 2021.
The “Grumpy Venus “ is tattooed, offended, self-confident and physical, a wonderful young woman presents herself.
Sophies Venus drapes the shell as a tulle cape with an enviable naturalness. But she avoids our gaze.
Is she not as self-confident as she seems at first glance? Is the disinterest just an act, and is there a last vestige of Renaissance Venus shame after all? Can we, despite all our efforts, still not completely detach ourselves from the traditional roles today?
This Venus remains enigmatic and, despite her defensive attitude, even more attractive.