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Robin Yong
Cups of Victory/Glory, 2016
Fine Art Pigment Prints on Cotton Rag
19 3/4 x 27 1/2 in
50 x 70 cm
50 x 70 cm
Edition of 10
Copyright The Artist
£900 / £1080 (inc. tax)
Flower of Ethiopia Series Flowers of Ethiopia is one of Yong's most surprisingly beautiful works. The journey in the Horn of Africa, in the Omo National Park, where ancient Ethiopian...
Flower of Ethiopia Series
Flowers of Ethiopia is one of Yong's most surprisingly beautiful works. The journey in the Horn of Africa, in the Omo National Park, where ancient Ethiopian tribes live, brings him in a context of primordial nature, simple and pure, made of spontaneity, smiles and innocence. The gaze of Yong frees himself of his "superstructures" to be able to grasp naturally what the great and wonderful mother nature offers him: flowers adorning other flowers, clothes of nature revealing purity, smiles for exchanges of understanding and friendship. Flowers of Ethiopia is a tribute to the great people of a great land. Yong did not simply picture the reality of life, he has designed it with his own colours. Naturalness that meets other naturalness, immortality of an encounter of love. Impossible to not be appreciated.
In 2016, after 2 years planning, the artist visited the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, a very isolated region which is not accessible but during mid November and early March. There are no hotels, nor restaurants or any other amenities. Robin travelled with a local guide and armed bodyguards. He describes the experience “eye opener” and the outcome the most rewarding so far having won an outstanding number of Prizes and Awards worldwide.
"Flowers of Ethiopia" is about the Surma tribe - a tribe in the Kibish area well-known for creating Haute Couture out of Nature with their elaborate body painting and outrageously fashionable head pieces made of flowers. The Surma tribe of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia, a place where mankind probably began. The children and teens appear innocent and beautiful, with their ornate body paint work and exotic head decorations made of flowers. The place appears peaceful and untouched, but in reality, life here is harsh with the tribespeople at frequent wars with neighbouring tribes over cattle grazing rights. The line between peace and war is very blurred. When photographing the tribespeople, no flash, external lightning or reflectors are used out of respect for the tribespeople. The locals believe that each time a flash goes off, blood energy is being sucked out of their bodies.
Flowers of Ethiopia is one of Yong's most surprisingly beautiful works. The journey in the Horn of Africa, in the Omo National Park, where ancient Ethiopian tribes live, brings him in a context of primordial nature, simple and pure, made of spontaneity, smiles and innocence. The gaze of Yong frees himself of his "superstructures" to be able to grasp naturally what the great and wonderful mother nature offers him: flowers adorning other flowers, clothes of nature revealing purity, smiles for exchanges of understanding and friendship. Flowers of Ethiopia is a tribute to the great people of a great land. Yong did not simply picture the reality of life, he has designed it with his own colours. Naturalness that meets other naturalness, immortality of an encounter of love. Impossible to not be appreciated.
In 2016, after 2 years planning, the artist visited the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, a very isolated region which is not accessible but during mid November and early March. There are no hotels, nor restaurants or any other amenities. Robin travelled with a local guide and armed bodyguards. He describes the experience “eye opener” and the outcome the most rewarding so far having won an outstanding number of Prizes and Awards worldwide.
"Flowers of Ethiopia" is about the Surma tribe - a tribe in the Kibish area well-known for creating Haute Couture out of Nature with their elaborate body painting and outrageously fashionable head pieces made of flowers. The Surma tribe of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia, a place where mankind probably began. The children and teens appear innocent and beautiful, with their ornate body paint work and exotic head decorations made of flowers. The place appears peaceful and untouched, but in reality, life here is harsh with the tribespeople at frequent wars with neighbouring tribes over cattle grazing rights. The line between peace and war is very blurred. When photographing the tribespeople, no flash, external lightning or reflectors are used out of respect for the tribespeople. The locals believe that each time a flash goes off, blood energy is being sucked out of their bodies.
Exhibitions
Flowers of Ethiopia and Other Harmonies by Robin YongCurated by Gianfranco Valleriani
Le Dame Art Gallery
London, March 7 - April 5, 2019