How Artist Sofia Lai Is Sculpting Intimacy With SHOWstudio Exhibition 'Interdependence'

Who?

Sofia Lai is a London-based Italian fashion stylist and visual artist who creates sculptural works rooted in merging abstract and figurative fashion images. Armed with a portfolio characterised by the artist's own fascination with layering textiles, painting, and sculpture, Lai populates her work with unconventional and diverse human identities as distorted forms and body parts come together to create human-like models that transform any space they're put within to create 'dreamlike' scenarios. Ever-present themes Lai chooses to communicate with her sculptures include isolation, loneliness and interdependence, the latter of which also doubles up as the name for SHOWstudio's upcoming exhibition with Lai.

What?

Intrigued by Lai's self-crafted world, we decided to commission the artist for our next exhibition in tandem with London Gallery Weekend, where we've asked her to deep dive into our own fashion illustration archive and respond to select artworks with her signature sculptures. The entire process will see the artist take up residence in our gallery while we livestream her from beginning to end. The brief? To create five lifelike sculptures that explore the intimate relations between artworks as if they were living beings in conversation with one another. While borrowing from feelings of connection and disconnection, the exhibition will act as a portrayal of loneliness in spite of togetherness. Throughout the exhibition, the final five sculptures will be staged next to five empty chairs to emphasise such themes while also transforming the show into a set for our S/S 25 Men's fashion coverage to take place. Speaking of the collaboration, Lai said in a statement:

'It is my great pleasure to exhibit at SHOWstudio, a place that fosters artistic thought, innovation, and connections among creatives. I hope my work will be an inspiration to others and that I can use this opportunity to share my vision.'

Where?

To watch Lai craft and sculpt in real time, head over to the SHOWstudio Gallery at 22D Ebury Street in Belgravia during London Gallery Weekend to marvel at how the artist brings her unique sculptures to life. If you're tuning in internationally and cannot make it to our London address don't stress, we will be live-streaming Lai's entire creative process on our website at SHOWstudio.com.

When?

The exhibition of Lai's complete works will be open to the public at the SHOWstudio Gallery from 7 - 28 June, 2024.

London Gallery Weekend will take place from 31 May until 2 June and will coincide with a specialist curated tour by our founder Nick Knight around all his favourite London spots for the occasion. Other curated tours by iconic Londoners and leading figures from the worlds of art and fashion include writer and curator Ekow Eshun, fashion designer Roksanda and writer-curator Charlie Porter.

For more information on Knight's Curated Routes tour, click here.