Venus by Darya Sokolova
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 120 x 120 cm
Year: 2024
Price: $2750.00 USD
Status: available
This painting draws a poetic connection between Venus, the symbol of love and beauty, and the seeds of strawberries, representing the dreams and desires we nurture within ourselves. The figure, with a serene yet intense gaze, embodies the essence of Venus, radiating an aura of grace and inner strength. The vivid red polka dots on the lush green background evoke the seeds of strawberries, each one symbolizing a cherished aspiration or heartfelt desire. The strawberries on the figure’s attire further emphasize the theme of nurturing dreams. Just as seeds need care and time to grow into fruitful plants, our desires and ambitions require attention and effort to flourish. The contrast between the cool, composed expression of the figure and the vibrant, lively patterns around her suggests a harmonious balance between calm self-assuredness and the vibrant energy of dreams waiting to be realized. Overall, the artwork beautifully encapsulates the nurturing of personal dreams and desires, likening them to the seeds of strawberries that, under the right conditions, grow and bear fruit, much like the aspirations we hold close to our hearts.
Why collect this work?
Venus uses one red motif at two scales: circles structure the green field, while strawberries animate the figure’s white clothing. This shift from abstract dot to recognizable fruit binds the portrait to its setting without dissolving the sitter’s distinct presence.
- Sokolova states that her symbolic portraits concern women who refuse to blend in. The figure’s direct scale and composed, oblique gaze support that aim, while the surrounding repetition complicates any simple image of independence.
- In the photograph, cropped shoulders, an elongated neck and high black hair press outward against the square format. Red circles cluster around the head, making the face a point of stillness within a patterned field.
- The documented acrylic on canvas supports broad, opaque-looking areas alongside tonal variation in the face. Here, those contrasting effects separate the flatter ground and garment from the more modelled figure.
- For an account of contemporary portraiture, the work provides a focused case of pattern carrying meaning. The supplied description associates strawberries with nurtured desires, yet their insistent repetition also leaves room to read them as ornament or visual pressure.
About the Artist
Darya Sokolova
Darya Sokolova is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nationality: Kazakh
I create art for women who refuse to blend in. My portraits are bold, symbolic, and designed to be the statement piece in any space.
