Spinning Trauma Into Gold: Maria Sophia

In November 2023, "Spinning Trauma Into Gold" hung in an exhibition. A psychologist took a photo and sent it to her client Maria Sophia.

Maria Sophia recognized herself in the painting. The historic elements, the Delft Blue ceramics she collects, the woman at the spinning wheel — that was her.

She uses spinning as therapy. Converting traumatic thoughts into wool, wool into handmade clothing. Literally making something beautiful from what hurt.

We met. I made a print, gilded the gold elements with 24-carat gold leaf, and gave it to her framed. Gold gives weight to her story — and she deserves that weight.

The painting was my own processing. That it reached someone else doing exactly the same thing, I hadn't expected.

That's why I make this: sometimes someone recognizes themselves.

Guido