Scarecrow of the Past

Through a Child’s Eyes: Hypnosis and the Quest for Authenticity in Art

Sofie Meulenaere, a Belgian artist born in Ghent in 1985, blurs the lines between memory and creation with her series “Through a Child’s Eyes.” By using hypnosis to regress to her childhood state, Meulenaere captures a raw and unfiltered perspective in her drawings, channeling the unrestrained imagination of youth. However, her approach, though innovative, has often been dismissed by critics, who argue that her simplicity falls short of the sophistication expected in contemporary high art.

Sofie Meulenaere, “Scarecrow of the Past,” 2020. Crayon on paper. 30 x 40 cm (11.81 x 15.75 in.). Museum of Modern Art, Department of Rejected Artists. Gift of the artist. ©️Sofie Meulenaere. Photo by Jean Chapeau.

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