Richmond BC, Canada #richmondartgallerybc
Bringing together the works of Sofiya Mukhachova and Quinton Qiu, Companionship and the Cosmos presents intimate visual diaries with a pet and whimsical cosmic dreamscapes. Through contrasting yet complementary approaches, Mukhachova’s and Qiu’s works respectively illuminate both the intimate and infinite dimensions of being—from everyday affection to celestial meditations.
Mukhachova’s semi-abstract paintings delve into the cosmos as a metaphor for the subconscious and existential yearning. Shaped by reflections on subjectivity, dream states, and the tension between despair and possibility, her celestial landscapes evoke signals sent into the vast unknown—a hopeful gesture for finding meaning in the face of nothingness.
Qiu’s digital paintings are part of Wander with Taichii, a series inspired by spontaneous walks with his cat Taichii. He transforms these everyday interactions into a visual diary—a playful, non-verbal narrative of companionship and shifting perspectives. His work reflects a sensitivity for the overlooked rituals of care and attention that give daily life its texture.
Companionship and the Cosmos invites us to wander alongside the artists’ visions—across starlit expanses and sunlit gardens—and consider how the personal and the universal continually fold into one another.
Biography
Sofiya Mukhachova was born in 1979 in Belarus and graduated from the College of Arts in Belarus in 1999. She went on to study art and design at the State Academy of Arts in Minsk, receiving her BFA in 2004. After working as a graphic designer in Moscow, she moved to Singapore, where she discovered a passion for teaching art to children. Sofiya eventually relocated to Canada in 2017. Now based in Richmond, she continues to develop her visual language, which explores cosmic themes and the tension between subjective reality and dream states.
Quinton Qiu is a Richmond-based Cantonese artist working across photography, illustration, media installation, and performance. His work explores mediated representation and symbolic interaction, using everyday objects to evoke memory and imagination. Passionate about sharing creative visions with young people, he creates fun, engaging, and story-driven art. Quinton received his BFA from Simon Fraser University in 2024.
The Annex Gallery is located in Richmond Cultural Centre Annex, 7660 Minoru Gate, Richmond, BC V6Y 1R8
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am-9 pm; Saturday – Sunday: 10 am-5 pm (The building will be closed from December 25, 2025 to January 1, 2026 for the holidays.)
