By Sophie de Vos
120 × 90 cm, ed. 1/2, 2024
Hahnemuhle, framed in black, museumglass

From the series Fragments of Clarity

The word ‘reflecting’ carries dual meanings; it can refer to an actual reflection — seeing an image mirrored in a glossy surface like glass — or it can describe the process of deep, thoughtful contemplation. 

This photographic series intertwines both interpretations, exploring the intersection between the literal and metaphorical aspects of reflection. In this series, Sophie incorporates glass as a physical and conceptual layer over her subjects, manipulating its positioning to create dynamic visual distortions. By alternating and playing with these layers, she raises profound questions about perception: When we look at something, are we truly seeing it as it is, or are we viewing it through the complex prism of our own experiences, biases, and emotions? Sophie challenges the viewer to consider the nature of clarity itself, suggesting that true understanding may be filtered and refracted by the lenses through which we observe the world.

Through this blending of visual and philosophical reflection, the series becomes not just a study of surfaces and subjects, but a deeper inquiry into the limits of perception and understanding.