Death Magic
Sofia Barton
14 July – 2 August 2025
Closing Reception: Saturday 2 August 4-7pm
Sofia Barton, ‘Death Magic’, 2025, installation view
‘Death Magic’ offers a poignant journey through the intersection of neurodivergent experience and the rich tapestry of Punjabi perspectives on death, ancestry, and the enduring power of memory.
This deeply personal exhibition by Sofia Barton presents a compelling collection of drawings, ethereal cyanotypes on glass, evocative paintings, and symbolically decorated rehals (book rests). These diverse media explore themes of roots, legacy, and how the essence of loved ones remains woven into the fabric of our lives, informed by both personal neurodivergent experiences and Punjabi cultural narratives. ‘Death Magic’ invites contemplation on the delicate connections between life and remembrance.
Sofia Barton was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, 1987, and is based in North Shields. She is a British artist whose work speaks to the complexities of identity, history, and belonging, often viewed through the vibrant lens of her Indian and Pakistani heritage. Following completion of a BA (Hons) in Photography and Film at Edinburgh Napier University (2012), Barton embarked on an artistic journey characterised by rigorous research and creative exploration. Her receipt of an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice award in 2022 was pivotal, enabling her to refine screenprinting techniques at Northern Print (Newcastle) and undertake deep investigations into queer identity and the enduring legacies of colonialism. These inquiries are profoundly informed by her dual heritage, allowing her to illuminate the multifaceted experiences of individuals and communities shaped by shared histories and post-partition narratives. Her work is rooted in collaborative and investigative settings, as evidenced by her residencies with Nasty Women and Durham University’s Bishop Cosin’s Library in recent years. She has undertaken commissions for a number of organisations and exhibited widely in the UK, including her two-person exhibition with Mani Kambo, ‘Narivad’, at The Gallery, Gateshead Central Library (2022).
‘Death Magic’ is presented as part of GemArts’ Masala Festival 2025. GemArts’ award winning Masala Festival is a weeklong festival celebrating a mix and blend of the finest South Asian arts and culture, packed full of performances, exhibitions, events, workshops, pop ups and demonstrations, presented in venues, places and spaces across the North East. Since its launch in 2016, Masala Festival has become a yearly celebration and a highlight in the North East cultural calendar, bringing audiences the best music, dance, visual arts, film, literature, performance, workshops, family fun days, food events and much more. The programme presents a diverse mix of contemporary and traditional South Asian art forms with regional, national and international artists, produced and curated by GemArts, working alongside key partners from across the region and beyond.
There will be a closing reception for the exhibition on Saturday 2 August, 4-7pm.
Sofia Barton, Reverence, 2025, hand painted wood imported from India, 15x27x14cm each
Friday 18 July 12 noon – 2pm
Community reception and Threads of Remembrance workshop
There will be a special community reception on the afternoon of Friday 18 July from noon to 2pm. The artist will be present, and there will be a workshop and refreshments provided.
Come unwind at Threads of Remembrance, a relaxed community workshop where you can mindfully fold origami lotuses with arts facilitator, Sullivan Alenezi. These beautiful creations will become part of a special communal display in the gallery, a gentle tribute woven together, to remember and celebrate loved ones. Your crafted lotus will contribute to a captivating communal art installation in the gallery, creating a collective memory through creativity. Visitors are welcome to drop in to the free workshop at any time and all materials will be provided.
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