‘By not fitting in, one suddenly begins to stand out’
Fusing architectural ideas with abstract concepts, Yomi Gbamis utilises acrylic paint to depict a variety of people, objects and animals in his own unique style. What is more is that these figures are enhanced by his colourful, seemingly hallucinogenic themed, backgrounds. On that note, Yomi is a self-described ‘abstract expressionist’. Though I’m not sure whether I’d entirely agree, as I think there is something deeper within his works that goes beyond such definitions.
As we have explored, expressionism is characterised by a desire to convey the emotion as opposed to the reality within a scene, something which is often communicated through thick brushstrokes or markings and intense colours. Abstract expressionism often takes this style a step further – like the artist Wassily Kandinsky, often championed as the father of this genre, did with his expressive piece in the 1920s – and are frequently distinguished as pieces of utter chaos. This is because these artists often purposely refrain from portraying any kind of recognisable form within the image. If you look at the works of an abstract expressionist like Jackson Pollock for instance, there is often no meaning in the painting for nothing identifiable is represented.
Yomi’s works, on the other hand, include easily recognisable figures. There is no doubt for example, that his paintings here depict a bird and a woman. Indeed, so detailed is Yomi’s depiction, that the piece veers more toward realism than expressionism.
Of course, his backgrounds are not representative of any kind of realistic landscapes, so you could say they are perhaps more on the abstract side of things. Yet, unlike your typical abstract or expressionistic work, there is something rather precise about the patterns and shapes within them. The background within his work ‘Free’ for example, appears to mimic a wall that has been constructed by intricately fitting a diverse range of coloured stones together. When we take such styles into account, it becomes difficult to place Yomi’s works within any specific artistic genre. Though, by not fitting in, one suddenly begins to stand out.
Coincidentally, having just touched on the subject of construction, Yomi had always wanted to be an architect. ‘Though destiny has its own plan,’ he says. ‘Instead, I got a degree in Agricultural Economics, though it all adds up to what I am today.’ In that regard, architects require not only a good imagination but the ability to see how a piece may appear within a given space, something which Yomi strongly considers when creating his works. ‘Without the ability to actualise an idea or concept, art would not exist,’ he says. ‘So I look to channel my passion into something that can make interiors look beautiful,’ he adds.
‘Ultimately, I believe that my art should inspire me first before affecting others, so each of my artworks is uniquely made for one special person… Art is in everything you see. My process of colour mixtures came from life itself and how I perceive it… My painting methods are also not subjected to one specific technique or tool. Using a great deal of precision, I use brushes, palette knives, acrylic pens, bare hands and many other tools to form an acrylic mix medium to create a specific image. I then finally look to connect all of the black lines and in doing so bleed all of the colours in the painting into one.’
Overall, Yomi provides viewers with a subject, be it a creature or a person, and through a plethora of designs that seemingly imitate a modern stained-glass window, imbues the figure with a sense of surrealism. It is like looking at a piece of Franz Marc’s works, an artist who also painted recognisable figures, such as horses, upon colourful expressionist style backgrounds, but through a modern and slightly more detailed lens.
Indeed, this mixture of minimalism and maximalism is perfectly suited to a world where our homes are structured in the same way – so why not purchase one of Yomi’s paintings for your house today?
Looking for your own Editor’s Review? Have your product, gallery, event, prize or otherwise, published and positively written about in the highest quality by the Editor in both the digital and printed versions of our magazine.Get in touch: editor@artetc-mag.com / +44 7368 869203
Comments