She counts among them early impacts such as her high school art history classes, a week spent in Ubud, Bali, during the late eighties, when the place’s ambiance was quite untouched compared to today, and a visit to Egypt in the early nineties. In contrast, her background in law has been instrumental in shaping how she organizes aspects of life. Exploring the work of emerging artists and engaging with them is something she is fond of; collecting for her is beyond acquiring, it is being involved in the entire artistic journey of an artist. There are various ways she lands in artistic positions that amaze her: by attending collective exhibitions at galleries, visiting art fairs, extensive reading, browsing through Instagram, making introductions with her network of fellow art enthusiasts, and stepping out of the familiar. The personal relationship with artists is what gives pieces of her collection nuances and subtleties. Within the works is the spirit that artists share with us, says Borrell. When I ask if she could highlight works and artists that are dear to her, she says that all are dear. Yet, some artists, such as Yosuke Ueno, Vivi Cho, Ryol, Felix Treadwell, and August Vilella, stand out for the special place they hold not just in her collection, but also in her personal narrative.
Right now, she is particularly captivated by the art emerging from Asia and creative expressions from Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. The Japanese super flat movement is something that greatly inspires her. Further, Borrell adds: „The art from these regions possesses a certain indescribable charm. When selecting pieces for my collection, I am drawn to recurring colorful characters and stylistic elements that evoke a feeling inside me, triggering emotions from happiness to nostalgia.“ The works are ultra-modern figurative, featuring primarily simplistic and childlike figures, giving the whole an aura of naivety. This stylistic choice aims to communicate certain messages, which often focus on spreading happiness and reassurance, seeking to create a soothing and comforting experience for the observers. When coming to her home, many guests wonder about the harmony between each artwork and artist (often, works stand on her walls next to each other, boosting the experience). Borrell: „This often leads to visitors questioning if the pieces are by the same artist.“ For her, the works and their narratives complement each other, yet, she can uncover common threads among them. Through personal choices and research, she has been able to build a truly distinctive collection that cannot be duplicated.
For the future, she envisions crafting an art collection that will resonate with audiences of the 22nd century, serving as a bridge from the present to the future. Borrell adds further: „Yet, as the collection grows, I am cognizant that the time will come to consider expanding the physical space it occupies. My focus remains on acquiring pieces created by contemporaries, artists of my era, forging a connection between my time and future generations.“ Meanwhile, she is optimistic to observe new generations of collectors and see what drives them in their collector tastes, from YouTube to fashion. The new generation is searching for connections in art, that reflect their style, identity, and time. She is always venturing beyond her familiar surroundings, continuously living and discovering.
Tryson Collection – www.trysoncollection.com, www.instagram.com/soniabblondon/
Note: This text is part of our WallArt Journal #2, which we specially produced for the SPARK Art Fair 2024 in Vienna. You can find copies around Vienna, or if you want to have one, feel free to contact us.
