“Reading a Room” reflects on the moment when strangers meet for the first time; all the impressions and thoughts that run through one’s mind. We’ve all found ourselves walking into a crowded space where we don’t know anyone, yet are expected to interact and behave accordingly - a situation most people find uncomfortable but still manage to navigate. My own experiences with such moments were never entirely uncomplicated, especially during my childhood and teenage years. As a young child, I was open as a book, but over time, certain experiences made me uneasy about being myself. Suddenly, there was never a moment when I felt fully in control or at ease around others. It took years of learning to appreciate new situations and to feel relaxed in the company of people. Still, these experiences continue to shape my work, as I explore themes of identity and the roles we take on in different situations. I like to create compositions that partially transform into abstract or two-dimensional forms, often resembling stage props. To me, this is a way to play with imagination and the idea of a performance and everything that a play represents. When I plan for a composition, I often construct much of it in my studio beforehand using materials such as cardboard, paper, and fabric. The tactile and hands-on process helps me connect with what I’m about to paint. I believe that the familiarity I have with the real-life objects in my paintings enhances the sense of texture and materiality in the finished work. I also like to keep the narrative open and somewhat abstract - a way to invite the viewer’s imagination and evoke thoughts about the setting, which sounds and scents could be present? At a gathering, the initial reaction is often to process the noise of different conversations, the unique scents that mix in the air and the feel and impression of a handshake. The protagonist in “Reading a Room” may be finding herself in this space for the first time, fully absorbing the environment around her. In the foreground, four dogs approach her curiously, eager to familiarize themselves with her. I often include dogs in my paintings, seeing them as symbols of ease and kindness as well as protection. Somehow, any gathering seems to bring people together with a dog's ability to throw people off guard.