Philadelphia artist Sophie White makes small, representational paintings of familiar places at various stages of becoming unfamiliar. Colorful paper mâché sculptures sometimes accompany her paintings, mimicking the environment in which they were made and inviting the viewer into the work. Having grown up in Lower Manhattan at the turn of the millennium, Sophie learned to paint while experiencing feelings of alienation as her surroundings went through phases of rapid development and gentrification. Every painting is made at the exact location and time that is depicted and is an artifact of that moment. Creating work with only real-time observation as a guide allows Sophie to decide exactly what information needs to be included and lets her senses determine the formal characteristics of each depicted site. This process also allows her to spend time with and mourn changing neighborhoods in Philadelphia as she once knew them, while also anticipating what is to come.
Her exhibition at Philadelphia International Airport focuses on two neighborhoods—Fishtown/Kensington (where the artist resides), and Chinatown. Historically, both areas have been working-class, ethnic enclaves. In recent years, Fishtown has seen a large influx of young urban professionals and gentrification, but most long-time residents trace their ancestry to Irish, German, and Polish Catholic immigrants. A few miles southwest of Fishtown, Philly’s Chinatown has also experienced significant change over the years, leaving its residents vulnerable to displacement. Although they are found in nearly every major U.S. city, no two Chinatowns offer the same experience. They vary greatly depending on the historical context of their establishment, the diverse origins of its immigrants, and the local demographics. However, what they have in common is that they are communities founded by immigrants who banded together to survive and thrive. By depicting miniature vignettes of these urban blocks, grouped in relationship to one another, Sophie White tells the story of neighborhoods over time.
