Vernissage «Sophie Ullrich – Hot Sauce in My Eyes»

Description

Welcome and brief introduction at 6:30 PM. The artist will be present. With «Hot Sauce in My Eyes», da Mihi Gallery is showcasing for the first time works by artist Sophie Ullrich in a comprehensive solo exhibition. Her painting combines hyperrealistic precision on abstract backgrounds and creates visual worlds between overload and lightness. The new works were partly created during her residency at Bern's PROGR and poetically reflect impressions of the city. Who is Sophie Ullrich? Sophie Ullrich (*1990) was born in Geneva, 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 awaken 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 presents the artist in Bern for the first time, discussing an independent position of new painting. Works that move between pop culture, everyday observation, and fine social critique. In recent years, Sophie Ullrich has already gained international recognition. 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 exaggerated. 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 overload and lightness. What does she show in the exhibition? The exhibition presents new works, partly 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, overload, humor as a survival strategy. The spices – hot sauce, Aromat, chili – become metaphors for sharpness, irritation, burning, and sensitivity. What is «Hot Sauce in My Eyes» 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 heat 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 not to go under. Ullrich creates works that aim to be resistant, 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 a 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, a small figure in historical costume kneels – a servant, a fool, an actor, compassionately catching the huge tears with bare hands. The size relation – the large pair of eyes, the tiny figure – makes the work an allegory of perception, overload, and close 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 overload – 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. If you want to see how painting can look today when it is both light and deep, you should not miss this exhibition. Text: Barbara Marbot and Hans Ryser, August 2026 Other 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 Opening hours Thu / Fri 2:00–7:00 PM Sat 11:00 AM–5:00 PM