Prof. Dr. Ana Dimke: "Consciences and Frontiers" catalog text, October 2, 2009  

It is the motives of fairy tales and myths, of legends and religions, that Swedish artist Sofie Arfwidson thematizes in her works. Her paintings are based on mythical incidents and creatures which she transfers into real situations. Thus are created bizarre figures, grotesque faces and blurry shapes.

Arfwidson observes how fairy tales and myths, religious and folk stories help people understand the inexplicable. Using simple motives and works they follow a similar pattern, yet differ from each other in their particular cultural symbols and figures. When these narratives stiffen, dogmatic convictions and confessions come into being, claiming primacy and segregating others. Conflicts arise.

The artist tries to develop an universal symbolic language which works beyond cultural barriers. Her paintings present complex sceneries which capture the viewer emotionally, bringing the observer at the brink of oscillating between fascination and anxiety, between thrill and fright.