Sophie Ullrich – Hot Sauce in My Eyes

Description

With "Hot Sauce in My Eyes," da Mihi Gallery is showcasing for the first time the works of artist Sophie Ullrich in a comprehensive solo exhibition. Her paintings combine hyperrealistic precision on abstract backgrounds and create visual worlds between overwhelm and lightness. The new works were partly created during her residency at the Bernese PROGR and poetically incorporate impressions of the city. Opening hours Thu / Fri 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Sat 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Who is Sophie Ullrich? Sophie Ullrich (*1990) was born in Geneva, and now lives and works in Cologne. She studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and graduated as a master student of Eberhard Havekost. She belongs to the youngest generation of visual artists whose highly regarded positions are awakening the art world. Her works combine a clear, often hyperrealistic visual language with comic-like figures, ironic distortions, and surreal shifts. Ullrich creates scenes that seem both light and profound – images that smile and make you think. Da Mihi Gallery is exhibiting the artist in Bern for the first time, presenting an independent position of new painting for discussion. Works that move between pop culture, everyday observation, and fine social critique. Sophie Ullrich has already gained international recognition in recent years. She has had solo exhibitions at Piero Atchugarry Gallery in Miami (2024), Galerie Droste Galadé in Paris (2025), and was also exhibited in Zurich during the Ice Cream Projects. Why does she inspire us? Ullrich's work lives on a contrast that immediately catches the eye: the mix of skillful abstraction and hyperrealistic motifs is unique and represents a contemporary urgency for us. Her images resemble snapshots of a world that is simultaneously overwhelmed and overdriven. The hyperrealistic elements – eyes, hands, objects – stand alongside flat, almost sketch-like figures. This friction creates tension that is both humorous and serious. Ullrich's painting shows how we live today: between flood of news and meme culture, tragedy and comedy, between overwhelm and lightness. What does she show in the exhibition? The exhibition presents new works, some of which were created during Ullrich's residency (May 2026) at Bern's PROGR. During her stay, she noticed the variety of spices in Bern's department stores – especially Aromat, which is ubiquitous as a flavor enhancer. This observation became the starting point of the exhibition title: "Hot Sauce in My Eyes." The works connect personal impressions from Bern with global themes: perception, overwhelm, humor as a survival strategy. The spices – hot sauce, Aromat, chili – become metaphors for sharpness, irritation, burning, and sensitivity. What is the exhibition about? The exhibition asks how we continue in a world full of crises and contradictions. The title plays with the ambiguity of teary eyes: perhaps it's just the spiciness of the sauce that makes them burn. Or – as Pierre‑Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais wrote in his comedy "The Barber of Seville" (1775) – we laugh quickly, "out of fear of crying about it otherwise." In this tension between pain and punchline, between burning and laughing, humor becomes a reflex, a small gesture of survival, an art of not going under. Ullrich creates works that aim to be resilient, that challenge the burning of the present with the courage of imagination. When craftsmanship becomes an instrument and resilience grows, perhaps the pain of the present diminishes. Work descriptions The cover image ""Taschenfigaro" inspired by the figure in "The Barber of Seville" depicts an surreal, two-part scene where two levels – the intimate and the theatrical – meet directly. The upper part of the image is dominated by an oversized, hyperrealistically painted pair of eyes. Eyes looking in different directions. Eyes that see too much, absorb too much, endure too much. Below, this small figure in historical costume kneels – a servant, a fool, an actor, compassionately catching the huge tears with bare hands. The size relation – the giant eyes, the tiny figure – makes the work an allegory of perception, overwhelm, and intimate support without ridiculing it. Another work (see figure 4) shows the packaging of an Asian flavor enhancer – a motif that Ullrich particularly noticed during her stay in Bern. The Thai and Japanese characters, the red shell, and the graphic design seem like a global everyday object that suddenly becomes a projection surface. Ullrich translates this consumer product into a painterly reflection on taste, irritation, and cultural overlays. The work connects Bern with Bangkok, Aromat with Ajinomoto, everyday life with overwhelm – and shows how global images influence local experiences. Why is a visit worthwhile? "Hot Sauce in My Eyes" is an exhibition about seeing, burning, laughing, and moving forward. It presents a young artistic position that responds to the present with humor and precision – creating images that touch, disturb, and liberate. Anyone curious about what painting can look like today when it is both light and deep should not miss this exhibition. Text: Barbara Marbot and Hans Ryser, August 2026 Events Public tours: Saturday, October 17, 5:00–5:30 PM Thursday, October 29, 6:30–7:00 PM Tour with the artist, followed by Hot Sauce on Hot Dog: Friday, November 13, 6:00 PM Registration by November 10 (contact@damihi.com) Finissage: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 2:00–5:00 PM The artist will be present