Sophie-Yen Bretez is a self-taught ar=st currently living and working in Paris. Originally from Vietnam, Bretez moved to France when she was 4 years old, providing her with a rich fusion of cultural heritage oDen reflected in her mul=faceted ar=s=c prac=ce. ADer comple=ng a master’s Grand École at Neoma Business School in Rouen, France in 2018. Bretez held mul=ple management posi=ons in the crea=ve industries throughout Paris. In 2021, Bretez decided to pursue her passion for art and began crea=ng full =me. Roo=ng her ar=s=c prac=ce in self-awareness Sophie-Yen Bretez is inspired by the freedom found in observing her own experiences and simultaneously transla=ng them into an enigma=c visual language. Striving to present an infinite dialogue between herself, the pain=ngs and the viewer, Bretez confronts themes of the human condi=on and the complexity of the emo=ons while exploring the rich plurality of her iden=ty as an adopted French Asian woman. Building upon her signature style of dream-like surrealist figura=on, Bretez’s works explore issues such as trauma, resilience, iden=ty, in=macy, sexuality and empowerment. Focusing on discovering ways in which to mirror the human condi=on in a state of recovery, Bretez oDen includes an illuminated horizon line sta=ng, “I paint horizons for those who have suffered.” By portraying her characters in semi-open spaces with a sunset or sunrise in the background, Bretez blurs the boundaries of the confined ‘safe’ space one builds for themselves in moments of weakness. Interested in challenging the tradi=onal male gaze Bretez u=lises reverse voyeurism to challenge our societal rela=onship with the naked female body. Unfaltering and strong, the women in Bretez’s pain=ngs look directly out at the spectator, serving to simultaneously create distance and prove they are not at the viewer's disposal rather they assert control of their own bodies. A natural storyteller Bretez begins each pain=ng with a poem linked to memory. Titling her works aDer these spontaneous and ins=nctual poems Bretez incorporates an addi=onal layer of dialogue between the work, the viewer, and herself.Tes=fying to the in=mate and the universal through substan=ve narra=ves, Bretez seeks to perpetuate a wider reflec=on of poli=cal, societal, and existen=al themes. Messages of hope and perseverance permeate.

Tang Contemporary Art was established in 1997 in Bangkok, later establishing galleries in Beijing and most recently Hong Kong. Tang Contemporary Art is fully committed to producing critical projects and exhibitions to promote Contemporary Chinese art regionally and worldwide, and encourage a dynamic exchange between Chinese artists and those abroad. Acting as one of the most progressive and critically driven exhibition spaces in China, the gallery strives to initiate dialogue between artists, curators, collectors and institutions working both locally and internationally. A roster of groundbreaking exhibitions has earned Tang Contemporary Art internationally renowned recognition, establishing its status as a pioneer of the contemporary art scene in Asia. Tang Contemporary Art represents leading figures in Chinese art including Ai Weiwei, Huang Yong Ping, Shen Yuan, Wang Du, Liu Xiaodong, Yang Jiechang, Xia Xiaowan, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, Yan Lei, Wang Yin, Guo Wei, Ling Jian, Chen Wenbo, Zheng Guogu, Michael Lin, Lin Yilin, Zhuang Hui, He An, Zhao Zhao, Wang Yuyang, Weng Fen, Yang Yong, Xu Hualing, Xu Qu, Xu Xiaoguo, Ji Zhou and Cai Lei, additionally collaborating with international artists such as Rirkrit Tiravanija, Navin Rawanchaikul, Sakarin Krue-on and Preeyachanok Ketsuwan.