'Objects sit on a stage and interact with each other-they have personality through shape and colour, and form relationships between themselves. Objects move, get replaced and change places in the course of a painting until it feels right. Colour, pattern, shape and line all play their part in creating the picture.'
Michael Sofroniou's painting practice centres on direct observation, seeking to capture the immediacy of experience rather than a photographic representation. Whether working en plein air or composing a still life in his studio, he approaches each subject with sensitivity to its mood, structure, and visual harmony.
Though best known for his luminous still lifes and expressive landscapes, Sofroniou's practice is shaped by his background in the theatre. His still life arrangements are constructed almost as stage sets-objects become characters, imbued with presence through their colour, shape, and placement.
Lighting plays a key role in shaping atmosphere, shifting across the scene like a spotlight, altering relationships between forms. As he works, objects are often moved, replaced, or reconfigured until the composition finds its natural rhythm.
While much of his work is painted directly from life, Sofroniou also draws from sketches and photographs, allowing space for memory and interpretation. His still lifes offer a sense of quiet drama-carefully balanced compositions that invite the viewer into a contemplative, almost narrative, space.