Collection Heart Itch Series, 2024

Heart Itch Series, June 2, 2024, by Sophia Serruya Monteiro (Soap)

Multiplied Neurons, 2024 Soft Pastel, Acrylic, Ink on stretched Canvas/ Digital Mashup (11 in x 11 in) 

The composition fluid, organic shapes and winding forms that resemble neural pathways or veins. The colors— deep reds, purples, and greens —swirl together, creating an intricate, layered effect. The organic forms and symmetry could evoke a sense of multiplicity, repetition, or interconnectedness, which fits with the neuron theme. The overall feeling is dynamic, almost as if the shapes are alive and pulsating.

Heart Itch, 2024 Soft Pastel, Acrylic on Un-stretched Canvas (14 in x 11 in) 

A serene moment, a breath of a peaceful calm atmosphere. A woman is shown wearing a jeweled headpiece with a prominent red stone in the center. The colors are primarily soft blues, greens, and whites, giving the artwork a muted, dreamlike quality.
The gentle brushstrokes flow keeping to the overall softness. A faint red mark near the figure's chest, subtly alludes to the concept of an "itch," representing an emotional or internal discomfort. The gentle brushstrokes and fluid composition add to the overall peaceful yet introspective mood.

Neuron, 2024 Soft Pastel, Acrylic, Ink on stretched Canvas/ Unedited (11 in x 11 in) 

A singular neuron, introspection on what was previously layered.giving the piece a sense of depth and movement, almost as if representing a cosmic process.

Concept molding/Sketches,

Further comments: 

"Multiplied Neurons" appears to evoke a more intense, energetic emotion compared to the softer "Heart Itch," but they share a thematic connection through internal sensations and emotions. In "Heart Itch," the faint red mark on the chest symbolizes a subtle, internal discomfort or longing. By contrast, "Multiplied Neurons" represents this emotional turmoil on a more abstract, energetic level. The complex, intertwined forms and vibrant colors suggest heightened mental activity or emotional overload, possibly resembling the sensation of emotions multiplying or spiraling within.

While "Heart Itch" communicates quiet, reflective discomfort, "Multiplied Neurons" amplifies that feeling into a vivid, chaotic inner landscape. The pulsating energy and mirrored shapes create a sense of being overwhelmed by emotions, symbolizing how internal struggles can feel like they’re repeating or intensifying—much like an itch that grows the more it’s scratched.

Emotionally, the viewer might connect with "Multiplied Neurons" by feeling that same intensity, as if their emotional state is mirrored in the art. It conveys a heightened, frenetic internal experience, contrasting but complementing the quieter, introspective mood of "Heart Itch." Both pieces together represent different facets of emotional discomfort—one quiet and persistent, the other dynamic and consuming.